Genetic Re Combination
Genetic Re Combination
Genetic Re Combination
Random assortment of the different alleles of genes on different chromosomes depends upon the
segregation and independent assortment of the chromosomes during meiosis I.
Crossing-over of the chromosomes during meiosis I leads to genetic recombination of different
alleles of genes on the SAME chromosome.
When genes are located near each other on a chromosome, they act as if they are linked and
parental allele combinations are more often than not inherited together by the grandchildren.
Genetic variability is produced by genetic recombination through the process of crossing over
when the chromosomes pair during meiotic prophase.
Parental homologous chromosomes exchange segments during crossing over to produce
recombinant chromosomes.
Genetic mapping based upon the measurement of recombination frequencies is used to map gene
locations.
Mendel’s law of segregation
Cross of a purple-flowered and a white-flowered strain of peas. R stands for the gene for purple
flowers and r for the gene for white flowers.
Mendel's law of segregation states that allele pairs separate or segregate during
gamete formation, and randomly unite at fertilization. There are four main concepts
involved in this idea. They are:
1. There are alternative forms for genes. This means that a gene can exist in
more than one form. For example, the gene that determines pod color can either be
(G) for green pod color or (g) for yellow pod color.
4. When the two alleles of a pair are different, one is dominant and the
other is recessive. This means that one trait is expressed or shown, while the
other is hidden. For example, the F1 plants (Gg) were all green because the allele
for green pod color (G) was dominant over the allele for yellow pod color (g). When
the F1 plants were allowed to self-pollinate, 1/4 of the F2 generation plant pods
were yellow. This trait had been masked because it is recessive. The alleles for
green pod color are (GG) and (Gg). The alleles for yellow pod color are (gg)
The F2 generation pea plants (Figure B) showed two different phenotypes (green or
yellow) and three different genotypes (GG, Gg, or gg). The genotype determines the
phenotype that is expressed. The F2 plants that had a genotype of either (GG) or
(Gg) were green. The F2 plants that had a genotype of (gg) were yellow.
The phenotypic ratio that Mendel observed was 3:1, 3/4 green plants to 1/4 yellow
plants. The genotypic ratio however was 1:2:1. The genotypes for the F2 plants
were 1/4 homozygous (GG), 2/4 heterozygous (Gg), and 1/4 homozygous (gg).
In this dihybrid cross, a plant with the dominant traits of green pod color and yellow
seed color is cross-pollinated with a plant with the recessive traits of yellow pod
color and green seed color.
If a true-breeding plant with green pod color (GG) and yellow seed color (YY) is
cross-pollinated with a true-breeding plant with yellow pod color (gg) and green
seeds (yy), the resulting offspring will all be heterozygous for green pod color and
yellow seeds (GgYy).
Independent assortment is a basic principle of genetics developed by a monk
named Gregor Mendel in the 1860's. Mendel formulated this principle after
discovering another principle now known as Mendel's law of segregation. This
principle states that the alleles for a trait separate when gametes are formed.
These allele pairs are then randomly united at fertilization. Mendel arrived at this
conclusion by performing monohybrid crosses. These were cross-pollination
experiments with pea plants that differed in one trait, for example pod color.
Mendel began to wonder what would happen if he studied plants that differed in
two traits. Would both traits be transmitted to the offspring together or would one
trait be transmitted independently of the other? From his experiments Mendel
developed the principle now known as the law of independent assortment.
Mendel performed dihybrid crosses in plants that were true-breeding for two traits.
For example, a plant that had green pod color and yellow seed color was cross-
pollinated with a plant that had yellow pod color and green seeds. In this cross, the
traits for green pod color (GG) and yellow seed color (YY) are dominant. Yellow pod
color (gg) and green seed color (yy) are recessive. The resulting offspring (Figure
A) or F1 generation were all heterozygous for green pod color and yellow seeds
(GgYy).
Independent Assortment
After observing the results of the dihybrid cross, Mendel allowed all of the F1 plants
to self-pollinate. He referred to these offspring as the F2 generation. Mendel noticed
a 9:3:3:1 ratio (Figure B). About 9 of the F2 plants had green pods and yellow
seeds, 3 had green pods and green seeds, 3 had yellow pods and yellow seeds and
1 had a yellow pod and green seeds.
Mendel performed similar experiments focusing on several other traits like seed
color and seed shape, pod color and pod shape, and flower position and stem
length. He noticed the same ratios in each case. From these experiments Mendel
formulated what is now known as Mendel's law of independent assortment. This law
states that allele pairs separate independently during the formation of gametes.
Therefore, traits are transmitted to offspring independently of one another.
In Mendel's experiment with pod color and seed color (Figure A) we see that the
genotype or genetic makeup of the F1 plants is GgYy. The phenotypes or expressed
physical traits are green pod color and yellow seed color. Both of these traits are
dominant.
The F2 generation pea plants (Figure B) show two different phenotypes for each
trait. Pod color is either green or yellow and seed color is either yellow or green.
There are nine different genotypes that result from this type of experiment. The F2
generation genotypes and phenotypes can be seen in the image above.
By convention - Dominant alleles are represented by capital letters, recessive by lowercase - always using the same letter