Lab 6 - Inheritance of Traits:

the Dragon Genetics Lab

Heredity
The passing of characteristics from parent to
offspring is called heredity.
Before DNA and chromosomes were
discovered, the mechanism of heredity was
one of the greatest mysteries of science.


Gregor Mendel
An Austrian monk
named Gregor Mendel,
who is known as the
Father of Genetics,
pioneered the study of
heredity in the late
1800s.

Mendels Hypotheses
For each inherited
character, an individual
has two copies of the
gene -one from each
parent.

Mendels Hypotheses
1. There are alternative
versions of the gene
which are called
alleles. (for example, Y
and y, T and t)
The combination of
these alleles is the
organisms genotype
for that gene

Mendels Hypotheses
Of the two alleles, one
of them may be
completely expressed
(dominant), while the
other one may have no
observable effect
(recessive) on the
organisms phenotype
(appearance).

Mendels Hypotheses
When gametes are
formed, the alleles for
each gene in an
individual separate
independently of one
another. Thus gametes
carry only one allele for
each inherited trait.

Two Laws of Heredity
The law of segregation states that the two alleles
for a character segregate (separate) when the
gametes are formed.
The law of independent assortment states that
the alleles of different genes separate
independently of one another during gamete
formation. For example, the alleles for the height
of a plant separate independently of the alleles for
its flower color.

The Human Karyotype
22 pairs of
autosomes

1 pair of sex
chromosomes

Female = XX
Male = XY


For autosomal genes:

If an individuals genotype is homozygous
dominant or heterozygous, their phenotype
will show the dominant allele. Ie. HH, Hh

If an individuals genotype is homozygous
recessive, their phenotype will show the
recessive allele. Ie. hh
Autosomal or Sex Linked?
If a gene is autosomal (found on the autosomes), it
will appear in both sexes equally.
A sex-linked genes allele is located on the X or Y
(sex) chromosome.
Most sex-linked traits are carried on the X
chromosome and are recessive.
If a trait is sex-linked, its effects are usually seen
only in males.


Complex Patterns of Heredity
Not all traits that are inherited are controlled by one set
of genes.
When several genes influence a character, this is called
polygenic inheritance
eye color, weight, height, skin color
In Mendels crosses there was either a dominant or a
recessive trait. In some organisms, an individual displays
a phenotype that is intermediate between the two
parents, a condition known as incomplete dominance
Examples of Incomplete Dominance
When a snapdragon with
red flowers is crossed with a
snapdragon with white
flowers, a snapdragon with
pink flowers is produced.
Neither the red nor the
white allele is dominant
over the other.

In humans, the child of a
straight haired parent and a
curly-haired parent will
have wavy hair.



Incomplete Dominance v. Codominance
Example: flower color in Carnations
Homozygous dominant (AA) = RED phenotype
Homozygous recessive (aa) =
Heterozygous (Aa) = PINK
Codominance: both alleles are equally
dominant and both alleles are visible in
the hybrid genotype
Example: feather color in chickens
Homozygote 1 (F
1
F
1
) = BLACK feathers
Homozygote 2 (F
2
F
2
) =
Heterozygote (F
1
F
2
) = Black and
pattern
Incomplete dominance: one allele is only partially dominant to
the other; the heterozygote exhibits a phenotype that is
intermediate relative to the dominant and recessive phenotypes
Characters Influenced by the Environment
Some phenotypes depend on environmental conditions
Hydrangea flowers of the same genotype can exhibit
different phenotypes based on the environment (soil pH)
Plants in acidic soil have blue flowers, while
plants in neutral or basic soil have pink flowers
Sex-Influenced Traits
A sex-influenced trait is a phenotype that is expressed differently
in males and females.
While sex-linked genes are only found on the sex chromosomes,
sex-influenced genes can be autosomal
Example:
Male pattern baldness (due to high testosterone; males have
more testosterone than females, so baldness is much more
common in males)
Also called a sex-limited trait (trait is found in only one sex)