Biology Gen Inherit Lab
Biology Gen Inherit Lab
Biology Gen Inherit 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.
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)
1
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? __________
2
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
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.