Genetics 11.1 & 11.2 The scientific study of heredity.

What is Heredity ? The passing of traits from parents to their offspring

1860s: Gregor Mendel “Father of Genetics” Mendel figured out how traits are passed on –before we knew about DNA, or chromosomes or meiosis

Mendelstudied heredity with pea plants Why pea plants? (was it luck?) –1. Small –2. Easy to grow –3. Produces large numbers of offspring –4. Matures quickly –5. Plants can self or cross fertilize –6. Many varieties –7. Each trait has two forms Tall/short purple/white flowers green/yellow seedscolored/white seed coat green/yellow seed podsinflated/narrowed seed pod wrinkled/smooth seed

The Role of Fertilization Male part of each flower makes pollen, which contains sperm—the plant’s male reproductive cells. Female portion of each flower produces reproductive cells called eggs.

To begin, Mendel self fertilized to create pure breeding plants Purple

First Cross: pure purple with pure white Cross fertilized P (Parental) generation –Pure purple with pure white –P Generation F1 Generation purplewhite X All purple

Second Cross: Cross 2 F1 plants Cross fertilized two of the offspring of the F1 generation purple X white purple

Genes and Alleles All of Mendel’s crosses had the characteristics of only one of their parents. An individual’s characteristics are determined by factors (genes) that are passed from parent to offspring

Mendel’s Experiments led him to 3 Laws of Inheritance The Law of Dominance The Law of Segregation The Law of Independent Assortment

The Law of Dominance: Each individual has TWO factors for each trait known as alleles alleles dominate over others – the dominant allele is expressed in the Freckles Dimples Tongue roller From Mom From Dad No Freckles No dimples Non-roller These are alleles

Alleles are: Represented by a letter of the alphabet Capital = dominant allele A lowercase = recessive allele a - Each allele represent different forms of the gene

Law of Segregation –The two alleles for each trait separate and move into different gametes – meiosis –Since only one egg or one sperm will contribute to the new offspring, only one allele for a trait is passed on –The chance that any allele will be passed on is 50%

Law of Independent Assortment the inheritance of alleles for one trait doesn’t affect the inheritance of alleles for another trait - occurs in meiosis during metaphase 1 Ex: Eye color traits will not affect a person’s hair color.

The Two-Factor Cross: F2 Mendel’s experimental results were very close to the 9:3:3:1 ratio

Genotype: Genotype is the combination of alleles for a particular expressed with letters Homozygous dominant: –TT - two capital letters Heterozygous –Tt - one of each letter (big and small) Homozygous recessive –tt - two lower case letters

Phenotype: Phenotype is physical expression of the genotype Genotype Phenotype TT tall plant Tt tall plant (dominant allele always is expressed over the recessive allele) tt short plant (recessive trait is expressed only if there is no dominant gene)

If R = red, and r = white What is the genotype of homozygous dominant? –RR What is the heterozygous genotype? –Rr What is the homozygous recessive genotype? –rr

If R=red and r =white What is the phenotype of of RR? –Red What is the phenotype of Rr? –Red What is the phenotype of rr? –White

You can determine phenotypes using a Punnet square. Tt If two parents are crossed (TT X tt), what are the resulting offspring? TT t t parent Genotypes:4 Tt Phenotypes:4 Tall This is the first or parent generation

Now try on your paper a cross of two of the offspring from the parent generation. This is called the first generation or the F1. Tt T T t t TT tt Genotypes:1TT: 2Tt : 1tt Phenotypes:3 Tall: 1 Short.