Exploration 2 Modeling Inheritance

Exploration 2:
Modeling Inheritance
Unit 2: Reproduction, Heredity, and Growth
Lesson 1: Inheritance and Reproduction
Lesson Outcome
Students will be able to use Punnett squares to predict

the possible genotypes and phenotypes of offspring
from a given set of parental alleles.
Lesson Objectives
1. Explain how alleles are inherited from each parent and how they
combine to produce genotypic and phenotypic outcomes.
2. Apply knowledge of dominant and recessive traits to determine
the probability of specific traits appearing in offspring.
3. Use Punnett squares to model inheritance patterns and describe
how genetic variation contributes to diversity in organisms.
● Mendel discovered the basic laws of inheritance through

his studies of pea plants.
● His observations confirmed that each parent plant
contributes one allele for each gene, offspring randomly
receive one allele for each gene from each parent, and
dominant alleles are always expressed.
● One tool for understanding the basic patterns of heredity is
a Punnett square.
● A Punnett square is a model used to predict the possible

genotypes of offspring in a given cross.
● The example shows a cross

between two tall plants (Tt). The alleles
top of the Punnett square shows
the possible alleles for this trait
from one parent (T and t). The left
side shows the possible alleles
from the other parent (T and t).
● Each square shows a possible allele alleles
combination for potential
offspring.
To construct a Punnett square,

1. Identify the parents’ alleles
2. Set up the square and divide it into 4 smaller squares
3. Write the alleles of one parent on the top row and the
alleles of the other parent on the side.
4. For each square, combine the alleles from the top and side
to fill in possible genotypes for offspring.
Example:
Let’s consider a cross for pea plant height, where:
● Tall (T) is dominant, and short (t) is recessive.
● Parent genotypes: Heterozygous tall plant 𝑇t and short
plant (homozygous) 𝑡𝑡.
A heterozygous genotype has two different alleles for a
specific gene (e.g., Aa), while a homozygous genotype
has two identical alleles for a gene (e.g., AA or aa).
Example:
T t
● Parents’ alleles: T, t and t, t
● Punnett square: t Tt tt
t Tt tt
● Results:
➢ Genotypes: 50% Tt (tall), 50% tt (short).
➢ Phenotypes: 50% tall, 50% short.
Calculating Genotype Probability
● A Punnett square shows all possible genotypes for the

offspring of a cross, not what the exact results of the cross
will be.
● A Punnett square is used to predict the probability that an
offspring will have a certain genotype.
● Probability is the mathematical chance of a specific outcome
in relation to the total number of possible outcomes.
Calculating Genotype Probability
● Probability can be expressed in different ways.

● For example, the probability of offspring having a certain
genotype could be expressed as a fraction, such as 1/4.
● Probability can also be expressed as a percentage, such as
25%.
Practice
Practice 1: Pea Plant Flower Color

● Trait: Purple (P) is dominant over white (p).
● Cross: Heterozygous purple flower 𝑃𝑝 x purple flower PP.
Questions:
1. What are the possible genotypes of the offspring?
2. What percentage of the offspring will have purple flowers?
3. What percentage will have white flowers?
Practice
Practice 2: Guinea Pig Fur Color

● Trait: Black fur (B) is dominant over white fur (b).
● Cross: Two heterozygous black guinea pigs Bb
Questions:
2. What percentage of the offspring will have black fur?
3. What percentage will have white fur?
Practice
Practice 3: Plant Seed Shape

● Trait: Round seeds (R) are dominant over wrinkled seeds (r).
● Cross: Two homozygous round seeds BB
Questions:
2. What percentage of the offspring will have round seeds?
3. What percentage will have wrinkled seeds?
Practice
Practice 4: Human Earlobe Attachment

● Trait: Free earlobes (E) are dominant over attached earlobes
(e).
● Cross: Homozygous free earlobes 𝐸𝐸 x attached earlobes 𝑒𝑒
Questions:
2. What percentage of the offspring will have free earlobes?
3. What percentage will have attached earlobes?
Practice
Practice 5:
Complete the Punnett square. The allele for red feathers (R) is
dominant and the allele for brown feathers (r) is recessive.
R r
R
r
Practice
Practice 5:
Use probability to describe the likelihood that an offspring of this
cross will have each genotype or phenotype.
Genotype/Phenotype Fraction Percentage
RR genotype
Rr genotype
rr genotype
Red feathers
Brown feathers
Practice
Practice 6: Eye Color in Fruit Flies

● Trait: Red eye color is a dominant (R) and white eye color is a
recessive (r).
● Cross: Two heterozygous fruit flies (Rr)
Questions:
2. What percentage of the offspring will have red eye color?
3. What percentage will have white eye color?
Extended
Read about the non-Mendelian Inheritance
https://flexbooks.ck12.org/cbook/ck-12-biology-flexbook-2.0/section/
3.7/primary/lesson/non-mendelian-inheritance-bio/

Exploration 2 Modeling Inheritance

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Exploration 2:

Students will be able to use Punnett squares to predict

● Mendel discovered the basic laws of inheritance through

● A Punnett square is a model used to predict the possible

● The example shows a cross

To construct a Punnett square,

● A Punnett square shows all possible genotypes for the

● Probability can be expressed in diﬀerent ways.

Practice 1: Pea Plant Flower Color

Practice 2: Guinea Pig Fur Color

Practice 3: Plant Seed Shape

Practice 4: Human Earlobe Attachment

Practice 6: Eye Color in Fruit Flies

Read about the non-Mendelian Inheritance

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