More Patterns Than Mendel Thought Chapter 11.4 More Patterns Than Mendel Thought AP Biology Fall 2010

Codominance in ABO Blood Types Codominance: a pair of non-identical alleles affecting two phenotypes are both expressed at the same time in heterozygotes In codominance, both alleles are expressed in heterozygotes

Codominance in ABO Blood Types Blood type is determined by markers produced by three genes The occurrence of 3+ alleles for a single gene locus available to individuals in the population is called a multiple allele system IA and IB are each dominant to i, but are codominant to each other Therefore, some persons can express both genes and have AB blood

Incomplete Dominance Incomplete dominance: a dominant allele cannot completely mask the expression of another Phenotype will be intermediate between the two traits

Incomplete Dominance Example: True breeding red flowered snapdragon crossed with a white flowered snapdragon Produce pink flowers because there is not enough red pigment (produced by the dominant allele) to completely mask the effects of the white alleles

Epistasis One gene pair can influence other gene pairs Their combined activities producing some effect on phenotype

Epistasis Example: Labrador retrievers One gene pair codes for the quantity of melanin produced while another codes for melanin deposition Another gene locus determines whether melanin will be produced at all- absence of melanin produces an albino (recessive) Two interacting gene pairs can give rise to a phenotype that neither produces by itself

Epistasis Example: Comb shape in chickens Is of at least four types, depending on the interaction of two gene pairs (R and P)

Single Genes With A Wide Reach Sometimes the expression of alleles at one location can have effects on two or more traits Termed pleiotrophy Cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia Marfan syndrome is caused by autosomal dominant mutation of the gene for fibrillin, a protein found throughout the body in connective tissue Marfan syndrome is characterized by these effects: Lanky skeleton, leaky heart valves, weakened blood vessels, deformed air sacs in lungs, pain, and lens displacement in the eyes