PRACTICAL 2: MONOHYBRID CROSS

Introduction

Phenotypic traits such as size and colour are control by genes. They are inherited as discrete units. Higher
organisms contain two alleles of each gene, but only one allele enters each gamete. Zygote formation restores
the double number of alleles in the cell. This is Mendel’s rule of segregation.
In this lab we will work with probabilities of phenotypic classes of monohybrid inheritance in corn. The colour
phenotype of maize (corn) kernels usually depends on the pigmentation of the aleurone (a layer of cells between
the endosperm [central tissue] and the pericarp covering). If the aluerone is colourless, then the kernel appears
to be the colour of the underlying endosperm. The ears you have contain the F2 seed (kernels) of an original
cross between parents that were homozygous dominant (RR) and homozygous recessive (rr) for the aleurone
colour gene.
Colour gene: Coloured aluerone allele = R
Colourless aluerone allele = r

Objectives

  To use corn to study genetic crosses and recognize contrasting phenotypes

 To collect data from F2 ears of corn and understand the principle of dominance, segregation and
independent assortment of alleles in corn
 To compare predicted results with results obtained from actual data

Materials

 Genetic corn
 Pin and needle

Methods

1. Count and record the number of kernels in the different phenotypes:

Phenotypes Number of Kernels

____________________ ________________

____________________ ________________

2. What are the expected phenotypic and genotypic ratios for the F2 seed? Please show/explain how you
derived your answers.
3. Using the expected phenotypic ratio in Question 2, determine the expected number of individuals of each
phenotypes.

Phenotypes Total
Observed number of
individuals
Expected phenotypic ratio

Expected number of
individuals

4. What factors could caused variations from the “Expected Numbers”?

PRACTICAL 3: DIHYBRID CROSS
Introduction

A dihybrid cross involves a study of inheritance patterns for organisms differing in two traits. Mendel invented the
dihybrid cross to determine if different traits of pea plants, such as flower colour and seed shape, were inherited
independently. Our objective is to understand the principles that govern inheritance of different traits in a dihybrid
cross that led Mendel to propose that alleles of different genes are assorted independently of one another during
the formation of gametes.

Objectives

  To understand the dihybrid inheritance pattern by analyzing the two traits in ears of corn
 To collect data from F2 ears of corn and understand the principle of dominance, segregation and
independent assortment of alleles in corn
 To compare predicted results with results obtained from actual data
 To explain the interaction between genes and the environment in determining the traits of organisms.

Materials

 Genetic corn
 Pin and needle

Methods

1. Each group will be given two or more ears of genetic corn. Your ear of corn for this exercise has two
distinguished traits. The first trait controls the aluerone colour and the second trait controls the texture of the
kernels. Note there are smooth kernels and wrinkled kernels. This trait is due to a single trait caused by the
production of starch (smooth) or sugar (wrinkled). Starch is dominant and can be designated as S. Wrinkled
is recessive and can be s. Colour is independent of starch (the alleles are located on a different
chromosome) Purple (R) is dominant and yellow (r) is recessive. The set of ears you have contain the F2
seed (kernels) of an original cross between parents that were homozygous dominant for the aleurone color
and sugary genes (RRTT) and homozygous recessive for the aleurone colour and sugary genes (rrtt).
Observe your ear.

2. Determine the phenotypes of kernels for each ear you are given. Record your numbers here along with
their corresponding phenotype. Also, put your data on the table for each ear you have counted.

PHENOTYPES
EAR
Purple & Smooth Purple & Wrinkled Yellow & Smooth Yellow & Wrinkled
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
TOTAL

Phenotypic ratio
Purple & Smooth ____ : Purple & Wrinkled ____ : Yellow & Smooth ____ : Yellow & Wrinkled ____
3. Show the inheritance pattern for these traits. Use Punnett square to show your work.

4. Using the expected phenotypic ratio in Question 3, determine the expected number of individuals of each
phenotypes.

Phenotypes Total

Observed number of
individuals
Expected phenotypic
ratio
Expected number of
individuals

Questions

1. What is the phenotype for these genotypes:

RrSs_________

rrSS_________

rrss_________

RRss_________

2. What is the expected genotype and phenotype of the offspring for this cross: RrSS X rrSs