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Q36 - Estimating Deleterious Mutations Passed On by Fathers of Different Ages

Theoretical 2 Real exam question - full text reproduced under IBO's CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license
Molecular Evolution & Neutral Theory Population Genetics & Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

In a hypothetical organism, a male is known to transmit about 40 de novo mutations to his offspring when he mates with a female at the age of 20. In addition, the number of mutations in the germline cells of a male increases by about two each year. Note that the genome size, the number of genes, the average length of a gene, and the probability that a mutation in a gene is deleterious are 1 Gbp, 10,000, 1 kbp, and 70%, respectively. Also note that all deleterious mutations are assumed to remain in the offspring genomes.

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

Age 20. What is the expected number of deleterious mutations an offspring receives from a 20-year-old father?
Age 40. What is the expected number of deleterious mutations an offspring receives from a 40-year-old father?
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Question reproduced from IBO 2020, Theoretical Exam 2, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 - attributed to the International Biology Olympiad. Open the full exam PDF · Community solutions (unofficial)