Homework 6 - Who’s Sophie's Dad? Blood Types, Genetics, and Mamma Mia!

Sophie from Mamma Mia! doesn’t know who her real father is. She has invited three possible dads—Sam, Harry, and Bill—to her wedding. To help Sophie figure out who her father could be, you will use blood type inheritance patterns.

Patterns of Inheritance:

• Blood types are determined by the ABO gene (with alleles A, B, and O).

  • A and B are codominant

  • O is recessive.

• Rh factor is a separate gene (so a separate Punnett Square)

  • Rh+ is dominant

  • Rh- is recessive

• Each parent gives one allele for ABO and one allele for Rh.

Scenario Setup:

Donna (Sophie’s mother) has blood type O–. Sophie’s blood type is A+.

The potential fathers have the following blood types:

• Sam: AB+

• Harry: A–

• Bill: O+