STEM121 – General Biology II

LABORATORY ACTIVITY
Topic 1
1st Semester, SY 2020-2021

MENDEL AND THE GENE IDEA

LEARNING COMPETENCIES:
The learners:

1. Predict the genotypes and phenotypes of parents and offspring using the laws of inheritance.

Introduction

The middle of the 19th century saw the first significant quantitative experiments on heredity. Though
results were recognized and given value only 16 years after his death, Gregor Johann Mendel laid down
the foundation of genetics with his laws of heredity using experimental crosses of garden peas (Pisum
sativum).

In the first part of his investigation, Mendel studied the inheritance of a single pair of contrasting
character, monohybrid cross. From the results, he formulated his first law, the Law of Segregation, which
states that pairs of genes segregate or separate during gamete formation; the fusion of gametes at
fertilization pairs genes once again. Principles of segregation apply to all sexually reproducing organisms.
The second part of his experiment involved crossing two traits (or more) simultaneously. Results from
Mendel’s dihybrid cross provided the basis for his formulation of the second law, the Law of Independent
Assortment, which says each pair of alleles segregate or separate independently of each other during
gamete formation. Traits whose inheritance follows these patterns are termed as Mendelian traits or
characters. There are other traits that deviate from these patter, which are called neo-Mendelian or non-
Mendelian traits.

In this activity, observed results from a coin-tossing activity will be compared with Mendel’s
theoretical ratios for monohybrid and dihybrid crosses.

Objectives:
1. To explain Mendel’s theory of inheritance;
2. To distinguish monohybrid from dihybrid cross; and
3. To use Punnett square and laws of probability to solve genetic problems.

Materials:
▪ 4 25 ¢ coins
▪ Masking tape
▪ Pencil or ballpoint pen

Procedure:
1. Stick a piece of masking tape on the four 25 ¢ coins. Make sure that the size of the tape is within the
circumference of the coin. For this purpose, two of Mendel’s seven characters of the pea plant will
be used: height and seed color.

2. Mark one side of two coins T (tall allele) and the other side t (short allele). Similarly, mark one side of
the other two coins Y (yellow allele) and the other side y (green allele).

3. Monohybrid Cross. In this part, the height character will be investigated.

a. Get the two coins for height: one coin corresponds to the male and the other coin to the
female. T and t are gametes for tallness and shortness, respectively.

b. Place the two coins in cupped hands, shake them, and toss the coins on your desk.

c. Read and record the coin combinations in your data sheet. Repeat the toss 50 times. (You
can do it alternately with your partner.)

d. Repeat again making it 100 tosses all in all.

4. Dihybrid Cross. This time, two traits will be considered: height and seed color.
a. Get all four coins, place them in cupped hands, and shake and toss them on your desk.

b. Record the coin combinations in your data sheet and repeat the toss 80 times.

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Reference:

Conde, M. A., Renegado, R., Salvadora, A. (2016). Biological science laboratory manual. Ateneo de Naga
University Press.

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STEM121 – General Biology II
LABORATORY REPORT
Topic 1
1st Semester, SY 2020-2021

MENDEL AND THE GENE IDEA

Name ____Memoracion, Maxine R.__________________________________________ Section _____SC2D_____

Date Performed _______08/12/20__________ Date Submitted ________08/13/20________ Score _________

LEARNING COMPETENCIES:
The learners:

1. Predict the genotypes and phenotypes of parents and offspring using the laws of inheritance.

Follow the instructions in each part and read each question carefully. Write your answers LEGIBLY on the
space provided after each item.

A. With reference to the activity, write the expected number of genotypic combinations for offspring if
both parents are heterozygous for height.

♂ Genotype: Tt X ♀ Genotype: Tt

T t

T TT Tt

t Tt tt

Genotypic Ratio: 1:2:1

Phenotypic Ratio: 3:1

B. Write the expected number of genotypic combinations if both parents are heterozygous for the traits:
plant height and seed color.

♂ Genotype: TtYy X ♀ Genotype: TtYy

TY Ty tY ty

TY TTYY TTYy TtYY TtYy

Ty TTYy TTyy TtYy Ttyy

tY TtYY TtYy ttYY ttYy

ty TtYy Ttyy ttYy ttyy

Genotypic Ratio: 1:2:2:1:4:1:2:2:1

9:3:3:1
Phenotypic Ratio:

C. Write the results of your tosses for monohybrid cross here.

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 Table 1.1. Expected and Observed Genotypes, Monohybrid Cross.

Expected Expected Observed Expected Observed

Gene Genotypic Genotypic Genotypic Genotypic Genotypic
Combination Ratio for 4 Ratio for 50 Counts for 50 Ratio for 100 Counts for 100
Offspring Offspring Offspring Offspring Offspring

TT 1/4 1 18 1/4 21

Tt 1/2 2 22 1/2 44

tt 1/4 1 10 1/4 25

Table 1.2. Expected and Observed Phenotypes, Monohybrid Cross.

Expected Expected Observed Expected Observed

Phenotypic Phenotypic Phenotypic Phenotypic Phenotypic
Phenotype
Ratio for 4 Ratio for 50 Counts for 50 Ratio for 100 Counts for 100
Offspring Offspring Offspring Offspring Offspring

Tall 3 3/4 32 3/4 68

short 1 1/4 18 1/4 32

D. Write the results of your tosses for dihybrid cross here.

Table 1.3. Expected and Observed Genotypes and Phenotypes, Dihybrid Cross.

Number Expected Number Expected Number Observed

Phenotype Genotype
for 16 Offspring for 80 Offspring for 80 Offspring

TTyy
Tall and Green 3 3 13
Ttyy

TTYY

TTYy
Tall and Yellow 9 9 47
TtYY

TtYy

ttYY

ttYy
Short and Yellow 3 3 12

Short and Green Ttyy 1 1 8

Discussion

1. In the activity, what is meant by expected ratio? Observed ratio?

• The expected and observed ratio defines the chances of having a specific type of offspring.

2. What is the effect on the observed ratios if the number of tosses is increased?
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 • The observed ratios increase as the number of tosses increases.

3. How does the chance of a coin landing on each side compare to the chance that a gamete will
receive a particular gene at meiosis?

• Both have a 50% chance.

4. Why must two coins be used to determine the genotype of the offspring?
• The two coin determines the type of gamete, it’s either a female or a male.

What have you learned from this activity?

• In this activity, I learned that there is always a chance that an offspring might not inherit a
gene that both of the parents have in common.

Application

Using the principles of Mendel, solve the following human genetics problems:

1. Suppose a husband and a wife are both heterozygous for a recessive albinism gene. What are the
chances of a child to be normal and albino? Show your testcross.

♂ Genotype: Rr X ♀ Genotype: Rr

R r

R RR Rr

r Rr rr

1:2:1
Genotypic Ratio:
3:1
Phenotypic Ratio:

2. Humans may have Rh+ blood or Rh− blood. A person who is Rh+ (R) has a certain type of protein on
the red blood cell. A person who is Rh− (r) does not have this protein. In humans, Rh+ dominates Rh−.
Normal insulin production (I) dominates abnormal insulin production (i) (diabetes). If both parents were
heterozygous for both Rh+ and normal insulin production, what phenotypes would they produce in their
offspring? What would be the probabilities of producing each phenotype?

♂ Genotype: RrIi X ♀ Genotype: RrIi

RI Ri rI ri

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 RI RRII RRIi RrII RrIi

Ri RRIi RRii RrIi Rrii

rI RrII RrIi rrII rrIi

ri RrIi Rrii rrIi rrii

1:2:2:1:4:2:1:2:1
Genotypic Ratio:
9:3:3:1
Phenotypic Ratio:

END OF THE ACTIVITY

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