Biology 9

Genetics and Inheritance Lab

Objectives:
Determine your own phenotype and probable genotype for some commonly inherited characteristics.
Identify the possible genotypes and phenotypes resulting from various genetic crosses and understand
their patterns of inheritance.
Solve problems involving autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, and X-linked recessive disorders.

PART 1: Autosomal Dominant and Recessive Traits in Humans

Work with your lab partners to determine and record your phenotype for the traits listed in the first
column of the following table.
Determine your probable genotype and record it in fourth column of the table.
Your instructor will tally the phenotypes for each trait so that you can complete the last two columns of
the table.
Are dominant phenotypes always the most common in a population? ______________________
Trait: d = dominant
r = recessive

Your
Phenotype

Possible
Genotypes

Your
Probable
Genotype*

Total # in
class

% of
Class with
Dominant
Trait

Hairline:
Widow's peak (d)
WW or Ww
Straight hairline (r)
ww
Earlobes:
Unattached (d)
EE or Ee
Attached (r)
ee
Skin pigmentation:
Freckles (d)
FF or Ff
No freckles (r)
ff
Tongue rolling:
Can roll tongue (d)
TT or Tt
Can't roll tongue (r)
tt
Mid-digital hair:
Present (d)
HH or Hh
Absent (r)
hh
Hitchhiker's thumb:
TT or Tt
Last segment can't be bent
backward (d)
tt
Segment can be bent
backward >45 degrees (r)
Finger length:
Short fingers (d)
SS or Ss
Long fingers (r)
ss
Cleft chin:
Present (d)
CC or Cc
Absent (r)
cc
*Please indicate if you think you know for sure your genotype (i.e., you know both parents phenotypes)
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PART 2: Monohybrid Crosses and Complete Dominance

Recall that gametes are haploid and contain only one of two homologous pairs of chromosomes. This
means that only one allele is present for a specific trait.
The genetic makeup or alleles present in an organism is its genotype. The physical characteristics are
its phenotype the expression of which can sometimes be influenced by environmental factors.
For each of the following diploid genotypes, indicate the possible genotypes of the gametes.
Diploid genotype
GG
gg
Gg

Gamete genotype

During fertilization, two gametes fuse and the diploid condition is restored. Give the diploid genotype
produced by the fusion of the following gamete genotypes.
Gamete genotype X Gamete genotype
g X g
G X g
G X G

Diploid genotype

Cleft chin is determined by a single gene consisting of two alleles, C and c. An individual whose
genotype is CC or Cc has cleft chin (Think Kirk and Michael Douglas). This is the dominant condition.
The recessive phenotype, the absence of a cleft chin, occurs only when the genotype is cc. In the case
of complete dominance, the dominant allele completely masks the expression or affect of the recessive
allele. Note that cleft chin is much less prominent among females.
When both alleles in a nucleus are identical, the nucleus is homozygous. Those having both dominant
alleles are homozygous dominant. When both recessives are present in the same nucleus, the
individual is said to be homozygous recessive for the trait.
Suppose a man has the genotype CC. What is the genotype of his gametes (sperm)? __________
Suppose a woman does not have cleft chin. What is her genotype? ___________. What allele does her
gametes (ova) carry? __________
Suppose these two individuals reproduce. Calculate the possible genotypes and phenotypes using a
Punnett Square.

What are the chances their children will have cleft chin? __________
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PART 3: X-Linked Crosses

The sex chromosomes carry genes that affect traits other than the individual's sex. Genes on the sex
chromosomes are called sex-linked genes. The vast majority of sex-linked genes have alleles on the X
chromosome and are called X-linked genes. Most often, an abnormal condition is recessive.
Color blindness is an X-linked trait. During the Senses lab you tested yourself to determine whether or
not you were color-blind. What were the results? ______________________________________
If you found that you are color blind, what is your genotype? _______________
If you found that you are not color blind, what is your genotype? _______________
Assume you are a female and are not color blind. You can judge whether you are homozygous or
heterozygous by knowing if any member of your family is color-blind.
o If your father is color-blind, what is your genotype? __________
o If your mother is color-blind, what is your genotype? _________
o If you know of no one in your family who is color blind, what is your probable genotype?
__________
The only color-blind member of Talia's family is her brother.
o What is her brother's genotype? __________
o What is her father's genotype? __________
o What is her mother's genotype? __________
o What is Talia's genotype if she has a color-blind son? __________

PART 4: Genetics Problems Involving Autosomal Dominant, Autosomal Recessive, and X-Linked
Recessive Disorders
Example of an autosomal recessive disorder:
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the most common inherited genetic disorder in the U.S. One out of every 2000
births is a CF baby. A couple wants to have a baby, but both the husband and wife have relatives who
have died of CF. They go for genetic screening to see if they carry the diseased allele for this gene. The
results of the testing revealed that the man does not have the CF allele but the woman does.
o
o
o
o
o

What is the genotype of man? __________

What is the genotype of woman? __________
What type of sperm can the man make? __________
What type of eggs can the woman make? __________
Draw a Punnett square to determine the possible genotypes of their children:

o Is it possible for them to have a CF child? _______

o What is the chance that they will have a child that is a carrier? __________
General statements for the pattern of inheritance of autosomal recessive traits or disorders:
1. Two people without the disorder (or trait) can always have a child with the disorder (trait).
2. The disorder (trait) often skips several generations before reappearing.
3. The disorder (trait) affects boys and girls in equal proportions.
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Example of an autosomal dominant disorder:

Huntington disorder is a progressive degeneration of the nervous system that begins at middle age and
results in an early death. It is caused by a single autosomal gene mutation that acts in a dominant
fashion.
o A 40-year old man was just diagnosed with Huntington disorder.
What could his genotypes be? __________________
o His wife went for genetic screening for the Huntington allele and learned that she did not have it.
What is her genotype? __________
o Assume it was determined through genetic screening that the husband only had one copy of the
Huntington allele. What must his genotype be? __________
o Draw a Punnett square to determine the potential genotypes of their children:

o Circle the genotypes of the children who have the Huntington allele.
o This couple has a 12-year old son. What is the chance that he inherited the disorder? _________
General statements for the pattern of inheritance of autosomal dominant traits or disorders:
1. Two people without the disorder (or trait) can NEVER have a child with the disorder (trait).
2. The disorder (trait) is present in every generation.
3. The disorder (trait) affects boys and girls in equal proportions.

Example of an X-linked recessive disorder:

Hemophilia, the inability of blood to clot, is caused by a recessive mutation of a gene on the X
chromosome. Suppose a normal man and a woman who is a carrier for hemophilia have children.
o Complete the Punnett square below to show the possible types of children. Label the sex and
genotype of each. Remember to use notation reflecting the X and Y chromosomes

o What is the chance that they have a hemophiliac child? __________

o What sex will the hemophiliac child always be? __________
o At the hospital, just after their baby boy is born, the doctor informs them that there is a __________
chance that their boy is a hemophiliac.
General statements for the pattern of inheritance of X-linked recessive traits or disorders:
1. Two people without the disorder (or trait) can always have a BOY with the disorder (trait).
2. The disorder (trait) often skips several generations before reappearing.
3. The disorder (trait) affects boys much more often than girls.
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