Q34 - Assigning Anonymous DNA Samples to Three Families by STR Profiling

Mr. Long analyzed DNA samples from three families using six loci of short tandem repeat (STR) on six different autosomal chromosomes. Each STR locus usually has many different alleles that are labeled by numbers, e.g. 3 and 5 for locus 1 of Huong’s sample, in the table. In the first family, the father is Hung, the mother is Huong and their son is Dung. In the second family, the father is Nhan and his two sons are Tin and Nghia. In the third family the father is Phu, and his son is Quy. Mr. Long also included a DNA sample from Dat who is unrelated to any of the three families. Samples were randomly encoded with numbers but the key was lost except for Huong’s sample.

Using the information and data, determine which of the statements are true or which are false.

Question reproduced from IBO 2016, Theoretical Paper A, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 - attributed to the International Biology Olympiad. Open the full exam PDF · Community solutions (unofficial)