10 I ntroduction to Genetics and Patterns

of Inheritance
ENCOUNTER THE PHENOMENON
Write the Encounter the Phenomenon question for this module.

Why are these siblings not identical?

Use the “What I Know” column to list the things you know about the Encounter the Phenomenon
question. Then list the questions you have about the Encounter the Phenomenon question in the
“What I Want to Find Out” column. As you read the module, fill in the “What I Learned” column.

K W L
What I Know What I Want to Find Out What I Learned
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Introduction to Genetics and Patterns
of Inheritance
1 Mendelian Genetics
REVIEW Recall the definition of the Review Vocabulary term.
VOCABULARY
segregation the separation of alleles that occurs during meiosis
segregation

NEW VOCABULARY Use terms in the left margin to complete the paragraph below.
allele Genetics is the branch of biology that studies how traits are
genetics inherited. Hybrid offspring result from parents that have
hybrid different forms of alleles for certain traits. Mendel’s
law of independent law of segregation states that every individual has two alleles of
assortment each gene and when gametes are produced, each gamete receives
law of segregation one of these alleles. Mendel’s law of independent assortment

dominant states that genes for different traits are inherited independently of
genotype each other.
heterozygous Compare and contrast each pair of terms by defining them and/or
homozygous noting their differences. Accept all reasonable responses.

phenotype dominant trait recessive trait

recessive an observed trait that masks the trait that can be observed if the
recessive form of a trait dominant trait is not present
genotype phenotype

the allele combination an the way an organism looks and

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organism contains behaves

homozygous heterozygous

an organism’s genotype when two an organism’s genotype when

alleles for a trait are the same two alleles for a trait are different

Describe how a plant self-pollinates.

A plant self-pollinates when its male and female gametes come from the

same plant.

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 1 Mendelian Genetics (continued)
Get It? Infer why it is important that Mendel’s experiments used a
true-breeding plant.

The use of true-breeding plants allowed Mendel to easily segregate the

genes passed from generation to generation.

Analyze Mendel’s experiment with green-seed and yellow-seed pea

plants by completing this summary paragraph.

Mendel used only true breeding lines, which consistently

produced the same trait in the offspring. To see how these traits are
inherited, Mendel performed cross pollination . When he crossed a
green-seed plant with a yellow-seed plant, the F1 offspring were
100 percent yellow and 0 percent green. He allowed the F 1

plants to self-fertilize to produce F2 plants. The F2 plants

were 75 percent yellow and 25 percent green. Mendel
concluded that each trait has two forms, called alleles . Mendel
called yellow seed color the dominant form and green seed color
the recessive form of the trait.

Compare genotypes and phenotypes for pea plants.

Homozygous or
Genotype Phenotype
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Heterozygous
YY homozygous yellow seeds

Yy heterozygous yellow seeds

yy homozygous green seeds

Get It? Infer whether an individual with a recessive phenotype for a

trait is heterozygous or homozygous for that trait.

homozygous recessive for the trait

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1 Mendelian Genetics (continued)
Get It? Restate Mendel’s law of segregation in your own words.

The two alleles for a trait separate during gamete formation. Two alleles

for a trait unite during fertilization.

Demonstrate the law of independent assortment by listing the

4 alleles that are produced when a pea plant with the genotype
YyRr produces gametes.
1. YR 2. Yr 3. yr 4. yR

Get It? Evaluate How can the random distribution of alleles result
in a predictable ratio?

Because there is an equal chance that each pair of alleles can randomly

combine with each other, the outcome of a large sample size will be a

predictable ratio.

Complete the Punnett squares for seed texture in the F1 and F2

generations. Round seeds (R) are dominant over wrinkled seeds (r).
Write the expected genotypes and the probability for each.
F1 F2
R R R r
RR 25%
r Rr Rr R RR Rr Rr 100%
Rr 50%

r Rr Rr r Rr rr rr 25%

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Identify the genotypes within the Punnett square showing the
dihybrid cross of seed color and seed texture. The first row has been
done for you. Write the expected phenotypic ratio.

YR yR Yr yr
YR YYRR YyRR YYRr YyRr
yR YyRR yyRR YyRr yyRr
Yr YYRr YyRr YYrr Yyrr
yr YyRr yyRr Yyrr yyrr

Phenotypic ratio: 9 yellow round : 3 green round : 3 yellow wrinkled :

1 green wrinkled

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 1 Mendelian Genetics (continued)
CHECK YOUR PROGRESS
1. Diagram Use a Punnett square to explain how a dominant allele masks the
presence of a recessive allele.

The Punnett square should show possible combinations of dominant and recessive
alleles. When at least one dominant allele is present in a pair, the phenotype of the
dominant allele will be expressed.

2. Apply the law of segregation and the law of independent assortment by giving an
example of each.

Possible answer: Law of segregation example: A pea plant with the genotype YY and a pea plant with

the genotype yy produce the genotype Yy during fertilization. Law of independent assortment

example: A pea plant with the genotype YyRr self-fertilizes in a dihybrid cross, with the result that the

male and female gametes have equal chances of having a genotype of YR, Yr, Ry, or yr.

3. Use a Punnett Square In fruit flies, red eyes (R) are dominant to pink eyes (r). What
is the phenotypic ratio of a cross between a heterozygous male and a pink-eyed
female?

1 red:1 pink
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4. Evaluate the significance of Mendel’s work to the field of genetics.

Mendel’s work demonstrates how genes are passed from one generation to the next and how

genotype affects phenotype. Mendel’s work created the study of heredity and led to modern

research in genetics.

5. What is the probability of rolling a 2 on a six-sided die? What is the probability of

rolling two 2s on two six-sided die? How is probability used in the study of genetics?
_
6 36(_ _ )
​  1  ​; _
1
6
1
​  1  ​ ​ ​   ​ × ​   ​ ​; to predict likely outcomes of crosses
6

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