Human Traits Lab

I.

Purpose:

To observe the expression of a series of genes in an individual's phenotype

To demonstrate a small part of the range of human variation
To understand the genetic basis for human diversity

II.

Introduction:

Many of you are already familiar with many of the genetic traits of humans such as
baldness, eye color, color blindness and blood types. One often forgets that more familiar
characters such as size and position of eyes, number and shape of fingers, total body size
and body proportion may also be genetically determined (although such characters as
body size may be profoundly influenced by environment). The tremendous number of
genetic traits makes humans extremely variable. With the exception of identical twins, it is
highly unlikely that any two persons will have the same (or even similar) combinations of
genetically determined traits.
In this exercise, you will inventory yourself and partner for the series of genetic traits
listed in Table 1.1, some of which are illustrated in Figure 1.1. These are known to be
single-gene traits, expressions of two alleles at one gene locus.

Trait
(alleles)

Expression

Hold one hand in front of you. Look at the top segment of your little
Bent
finger. If the top segment bends inward toward the ring finger, you
pinky (B, b have the dominant trait. If the top segment is straight, you have the
)
recessive trait.
In more scientific terms, dominant allele causes the distal segment
(Last part of finger) of the fifth finger to bend distinctly inward toward
the fourth (ring) finger (Figure 1.1a).
Tongue
rolling (R,
r)

Try to roll your tongue to form a U-shape. If you can, you have the
dominant trait. If you cannot, you have the recessive trait.
In more scientific terms, persons with a dominant allele in

heterozygous or homozygous condition can roll their tongues into a

tube-like shape (Figure 1.1b); homozygous recessives are non-rollers

and can never learn to roll their tongues.

Widow's
Peak (W,
w)

Individuals with the dominant trait have a widows peak, where the hairline
forms a point in the front. Pull your hair back from your face and have
someone else look to tell you.
In scientific terms, dominant allele in heterozygous or homozygous

individuals results in a V-shaped front hairline (Figure 1.1c);

homozygous recessives have straight hairlines.
Thumb
Fold your hands together and look at them. If your left thumb is over your
crossing (C right, you have the dominant trait. If your right is over your left, you have
, c)
the recessive trait.
In more scientific terms, in a relaxed interlocking of fingers, left thumb
over right indicates the dominant allele is present in either
heterozygous or homozygous individuals; homozygous recessives
naturally place the right thumb over the left.
Ear
Individuals with the dominant trait have unattached earlobes, where the
lobes (A, a bottom-most part of the ear is not directly attached to the head. Those
)
with the recessive trait have the bottom-most part of the ear attached
directly to the head. If you are not sure, have someone look and tell you.
In more scientific terms, ear lobes may be either adherent or free and

pendulous. Homozygous recessives have attached ear lobes (Figure

1.1d); heterozygous or homozygous dominant individuals have
detached (free) ear lobes.
Hold one hand with the thumb up and stretch the thumb out. If the top

Hitchhiker's segment of your thumb is bent backward, you have the dominant trait,
thumb (H, called a hitchhikers thumb. If the top segment of your thumb is straight,
h)
you have the recessive trait.
In more scientific terms, homozygous recessives can bend the distal
joint of the thumb backward to a nearly 900 angle; heterozygous or
homozygous dominant condition yields thumbs that cannot bend
backward more than approximately 300
Blue eyes
(E, e)

Blue-eyed persons are homozygous recessive and lack pigment in

the iris of the eye; heterozygous or homozygous dominant individuals
have iris pigment, the color of which is determined by other genes.

Middigital

Look at the middle segments of your fingers. If any of them have any hair

hair (M, m) on them, you have the dominant trait. If that segment is completely
hairless on all fingers, you have the recessive trait.
In more scientific terms, people lacking hair in the middle segments of

the fingers are homozygous recessive. The presence of hair on one

or more middle segments of the fingers may be governed by a series
of alleles each of which is dominant to the recessive.
PTC
tasters (T,
t)

Take a piece of PTC paper and touch it to your tongue. If you taste the
chemical on the paper (it is obvious), you have the dominant trait. If you
cannot taste it or are not sure, you have the recessive trait.
In more scientific terms, phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) tastes bitter to

heterozygous or homozygous dominant individuals, but is tasteless

to homozygous recessives. Put a small piece of paper that has been
impregnated with PTC on the tip of your tongue.

III.

Procedure

In the following activity you will gather data on some of the traits of your
classmates. Please note any patterns you notice, or any extra observations you
make when taking this data. (If you need more space for any of the questions,
remember there is extra paper in the room)
Work

with the following traits:

Widows Peak vs Straight Hairline
Dimples vs No Dimples
Attached vs. Unattached Earlobes
Ability to Roll Tongue vs not able to roll tongue
Thumb Crossing Left vs Thumb Crossing Right
Bent Pinky vs Unbent Pinky

IV.

Data Collection

Put your data tables in this location:

V.

Graphing Results

Now that you have the data, graph this data in a way that makes it easier to
understand. Make a ROUGH DRAFT of your findings below. Your final copy should
be on graph paper and attached to the back of this paper.

VI.

Analysis and conclusions:

Now that you have obtained the data on these traits, and have graphed the data to
make it easier to see TRENDS/PATTERNS. Please answer the following
questions:
1. Are there any Patterns/Trends that you notice? Pick two and explain.
1.

2.

3. In this lab we are looking at the differences in appearance or function between

us. The traits you observed are called single-gene traits.
a. Give your definition of what a gene is?

4. They also say that these traits are expressions of two alleles at one gene locus,
what do you think this means?
5. Suppose you had to use the words Dominant and Recessive to describe some of
the traits you are seeing in our population.
a. Using what you have observed, give your definition of a Dominant Trait

b. Using what you have observed, give your definition of a Recessive Trait

6. Using your graph, is it true that dominant traits are always the most common
in a population? Explain your answer.

To calculate the percentage of classmates that have the trait for each gene use
the following equation.
(Number in class with the trait)
X 100 = Percent in class dominant
(Total number in class)