To determine the probability of male offspring having hemophilia, we first need to set up the Punnett square based on the genetic information provided for the father and the mother.
The father has hemophilia, which means his genotype is Y Xh. The mother is a carrier, with a genotype of Xh Xh. In this case, we can interpret the Xh as indicating the hemophilia allele, while the Y chromosome from the father does not carry the hemophilia trait.
Now, let’s lay out the Punnett square. The alleles from the mother will be on one axis, and the alleles from the father will be on the other:
| Xh | Xh | |
|---|---|---|
| Y | Y Xh | Y Xh |
| Xh | Xh Xh | Xh Xh |
Now, let’s analyze the results from the Punnett square:
- Y Xh: Male offspring who carries hemophilia (Xh) from the mother.
- Xh Xh: Female offspring who is a carrier of hemophilia.
From the outcomes, we see:
- 50% chance for male offspring to have the genotype Y Xh (they will have hemophilia).
- 50% chance for male offspring is not applicable since only males can inherit the Y chromosome.
In conclusion, the probability of male offspring having hemophilia, given that the father has hemophilia and the mother is a carrier, is 50%.