The Death of Baby Pierre

By Clyde Freeman Herreid

Abstract

This directed case study on a genetic disorder was developed for an exam on genetics for a general biology course. The case is based on an article by scientist and author Jared Diamond titled “Founding Fathers and Mothers” that appeared in Natural History magazine in June 1988. In the article, Diamond illustrates the significance of the “founder effect” in small isolated populations like the one described in this case.

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Date Posted

02/24/1999

Overview

Objectives

Describe basic mechanisms of genetic inheritance, specifically the difference between a recessive and a dominant trait.
Understand the rules governing the inheritance of dominant, recessive, and sex-linked disorders and be able to apply them to analyze simple genetics problems.
Determine, from a pedigree, the probability that an autosomal recessive disease will be passed on.
Practice calculating allele frequencies using the Hardy-Weinberg equation.

Keywords

Hereditary tyrosinemia; genetic disease; autosomal recessive disease; heterozygous; pedigree chart; genetic metabolic disorder; tyrosine; liver; kidneys; population genetics; founder effect; evolution; Quebec; Canada

Subject Headings

Biology (General)

Evolutionary Biology

Genetics / Heredity

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

High school, Undergraduate lower division

FORMAT

PDF

TOPICAL AREAS

N/A

LANGUAGE

English

TYPE/METHODS

Directed

Teaching Notes & Answer Key

Teaching Notes

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Answer Key

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