The Frequency of Colorblind Women and Men in the U.S. Population

Frequency of Colorblind Women and Men

In the U.S. population, the frequency of the allele for colorblindness, Xc, is 8%. This X-linked recessive disorder predominantly affects males. So, what is the frequency of colorblind women and colorblind men in the population?

A. 8%, 0.64%

B. 0.64%, 4%

C. 0.64%, 8%

D. 64%, 8%

Question

Which of the following is the frequency of colorblind women and colorblind men in the population, respectively?

Answer

The frequency of colorblind women is 0.4% and the frequency of colorblind men is 8%.

Explanation: The frequency of the allele for colorblindness, Xc, in the U.S. population is 8%. Since color blindness is an X-linked recessive disorder, it predominantly affects males. Therefore, the frequency of colorblind women would be the frequency of females carrying the Xc allele, which is 0.4%. The frequency of colorblind men would be the same as the frequency of the Xc allele, which is 8%.