Biology (11th Edition)

Published by McGraw-Hill Education
ISBN 10: 1259188132
ISBN 13: 978-1-25918-813-8

Chapter 13 - Chromosomes, Mapping, and the Meiosis-Inheritance Connection - Figure 13.13 - Data Analysis - Page 251: 1

Answer

The aging of mothers, from the 20-25 age range to the 35-40 age range, means that processes affected by aging change. Nondisjunction is more likely in older mothers, leading to a greater likelihood of Down syndrome in children conceived from those nondisjunct eggs.

Work Step by Step

The only change in basic description from one group to another is age, so that must drive the change in outcome (frequency of Down syndrome). What exactly about aging is causing this is not obvious from the description: it could have to do with the functioning of the mother's body affecting how often meiosis completes successfully, or it might have to do with changes accumulated by the eggs over the additional 5 years of maternal life.
Update this answer!

You can help us out by revising, improving and updating this answer.

Update this answer

After you claim an answer you’ll have 24 hours to send in a draft. An editor will review the submission and either publish your submission or provide feedback.