If three dominant mutations are observed in 50000 offspring

If three dominant mutations are observed in 50,000 offspring of normal individuals, what is the estimated mutation rate (use scientific notation and include units)?

Solution

Mutation rate is the number of mutations per cell division. In the above case, the number of cell divisions can be considered one; because one generation has changed.

So, mutation rate = (3/50,000) = 0.6* 10^-4   mutations per generation per population.

Please note that 3 offsprings will show the mutated phenotype due to the dominant mutation. Rest of the offsprings will be normal (same as parent).