Mendelian Genetics Practice Problems

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Genetics Practice Problem #1.) Cross involving one trait:
In pea plants, the allele for purple colored flowers (P) is dominant while the allele for
white colored flowers (p) is recessive. You decide to set up a cross (a mating) between
a male parent that has white flowers to a female parent that is heterozygous for flower
color.
What are the genotypes of the parents? ______________________
Construct a Punnett Square in the space below to illustrate:
1.) The different gametes produced by each parent.
2.) The different possible genotypes of the offspring generation (F1 generation) that
would result from the cross described above.

Based on your Punnett square:

What are the genotypes of the offspring and what fraction of the offspring will have each
of the genotypes (that is, what are the expected F1 genotypic ratios)?

What are the phenotypes of the offspring and what fraction of the offspring will have
each of the phenotypes? (that is, what are the expected F1 phenotypic ratios)?

Genetics Practice Problem #2.) Cross involving two unlinked traits:

In pea plants, the allele for round seeds (R) is dominant while the allele for wrinkled
seeds (r) is recessive. In addition, the allele for yellow seeds (Y) is dominant while
the allele for green seeds (y) is recessive.
You decide to set up a cross (a mating) between the following two parents:
Parent #1: Heterozygous for seed shape. Has green seeds.
Parent #2: Heterozygous for both seed shape and seed color.
What are the genotypes of the parents?
Parent #1 Genotype: _____________
Parent #2 Genotype: _____________
Construct a (large) Punnett Square in the space below to illustrate:
1.) The different gametes produced by each parent.
2.) The different possible genotypes of the offspring generation (F1 generation) that
would result from the cross described above.

Based on your Punnett square:

What are the genotypes of the offspring and what fraction of the offspring will have each
of the genotypes (that is, what are the expected F1 genotypic ratios)?
What are the phenotypes of the offspring and what fraction of the offspring will have
each of the phenotypes? (that is, what are the expected F1 phenotypic ratios)?

Genetics Practice Problem #3.) Cross involving a sex-linked trait

In fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster), the most common allele for the eye color gene
(w+) is an allele that codes for red eyes. A mutant allele of the eye color gene (w) is
an allele that codes for white eyes. The red eye allele is dominant to the white eye allele.
The gene is located on the X chromosome.
You decide to set up a cross (a mating) between the following two parents:
Male parent: Has red eyes.
Female parent: Heterozygous for eye color.
What are the genotypes of the parents?
Male parent genotype: _____________
Female parent genotype: _____________
Construct a Punnett Square in the space below to illustrate:
1.) The different gametes produced by each parent.
2.) The different possible genotypes of the offspring generation (F1 generation) that
would result from the cross described above.

Based on your Punnett square:

What are the genotypes of the offspring and what fraction of the offspring will have each
of the genotypes (that is, what are the expected F1 genotypic ratios)?

What are the phenotypes of the offspring and what fraction of the offspring will have
each of the phenotypes? (that is, what are the expected F1 phenotypic ratios)?
Be sure to indicate the sex (male or female) of each of your phenotypic classes.

Genetics Practice Problem #4) Cross involving incomplete dominance:

In snapdragons, the alleles for flower color show incomplete (partial) dominance. Plants
with two copies of the CR allele have red flowers; plants with two copies of the CW allele
have white flowers; while plants with one of each allele have pink flowers. You decide to
set up a cross (a mating) between two pink snapdragons.
What are the genotypes of the parents? ______________________
Construct a Punnett Square in the space below to illustrate:
1.) The different gametes produced by each parent.
2.) The different possible genotypes of the offspring generation (F1 generation) that
would result from the cross described above.

Based on your Punnett square:

What are the genotypes of the offspring and what fraction of the offspring will have each
of the genotypes (that is, what are the expected F1 genotypic ratios)?

What are the phenotypes of the offspring and what fraction of the offspring will have
each of the phenotypes? (that is, what are the expected F1 phenotypic ratios)?

Genetics Practice Problem #5): Codominance

In humans, ABO blood types refer to glycoproteins on the membranes of red blood cells.
Recall that there are three alleles for this autosomal gene: IA, IB, and i. Recall that there
are four possible phenotypes: Type A blood, Type B blood, Type AB blood, and Type O
blood.
If a woman with type AB blood marries a man with type AB blood:
Construct a Punnett Square in the space below to illustrate:
1.) The different gametes produced by each parent.
2.) The different possible genotypes of the offspring generation (F1 generation) that
would result from the cross described above.

Based on your Punnett square:

What are the genotypes of the offspring and what fraction of the offspring will have each
of the genotypes (that is, what are the expected F1 genotypic ratios)?

What are the phenotypes of the offspring and what fraction of the offspring will have
each of the phenotypes? (that is, what are the expected F1 phenotypic ratios)?

Genetics Practice Problem #6): Challenge problem Give it a try!

In Klingons, one gene determines hair texture; another gene determines whether the
individual will have a sagittal crest (a protrusion on the forehead). The two genes are not
linked. In fact, the gene for hair texture is on the X chromosome (is sex-linked) while
the gene for forehead shape is autosomal (is not sex-linked).
(You may safely assume that, like in humans, Klingon females have two X chromosomes
while Klingon males have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome.)
C = allele for curly Klingon hair (dominant)
c = allele for silky earthling-like hair (recessive)
L = allele for a large sagittal crest (dominant)
l = allele for a smooth, flat, earthling-like forehead (recessive)
Bijou, a female Klingon, is heterozygous for both traits. She mates with a male who has
curly Klingon hair and a smooth, flat, earthling-like forehead.
What are the genotypes of the two parents? ___________ and ___________
Construct a Punnett Square in the space below to illustrate:
1.) The different gametes produced by each parent.
2.) The different possible genotypes of the offspring generation (F1 generation) that
would result from the cross described above.

Based on your Punnett square:

What are the genotypes of the offspring and what fraction of the offspring will have each
of the genotypes (that is, what are the expected F1 genotypic ratios)?
What are the phenotypes of the offspring and what fraction of the offspring will have
each of the phenotypes? (that is, what are the expected F1 phenotypic ratios)?
Be sure to indicate the sex (male or female) of each of your phenotypic classes.