SCIENCE WORKTEXT

Non-Mendelian Inheritance Patterns

Mendelian Genetics
 Principle of dominance. The dominant trait dominates or prevents the expression
of the recessive trait. The effects of the recessive gene are not observed when
the dominant gene is present.

Non-Mendelian Patterns of Inheritance

 These are patterns of inheritance that do not always follow Mendelian principles
of heredity. This results to more variation among species.

Figure 1 Incomplete Dominance

 When the offspring have a phenotype intermediate between the phenotype of
both parents. (see Figure 1.)
 The two alleles are not completely dominant over each other, and the
heterozygous will be a new phenotype.

Codominance
 The resulting heterozygotes exhibit the traits of both parents. (see Figure 2.)
 The two alleles are both dominant, causing both traits to be expressed in the
offspring.
Figure 2
Multiple Alleles
 When the expression of a character is controlled by one gene pair, but the gene has more
than two forms or alleles.
 An example of multiple allelism is the inheritance of human ABO blood type: A, B, AB and O.
Three alleles control this character: IA, IB, and i.
Genotype Phenotype
IA IA, IA i Blood type A
IB IB, IB i Blood type B
IA IB Blood type AB
ii Blood type O
 The table shows the dominance of IA and IB over i, but neither one is dominant over the other.

Sex-linked Traits .
 Genes located at the sex chromosomes are called sex-linked genes. They may be linked to the X chromosome (X-linked)
or the Y chromosome (Y-linked). Examples: X-linked traits (color blindness and hemophilia); Y-linked trait
(hypertrichosis pinnae Auris or disorder that causes hairy ears)
Sex-limited Traits
 The genes that control the trait are autosomal, meaning they are not found on the X or Y chromosome. These traits are
visible exclusively in one sex. Examples: Lactation in cattle, and Feather pattern in chicken between rooster and hen.
Sex-influenced Traits
 These traits are also autosomal and are expressed in both male and female but more frequently in one sex than in the
other sex. Examples: Baldness, Facial hairs, harelip and gout.

Think about this… Answer the following questions.

1. How will you describe the heterozygous individual in incomplete dominance? in codominance?
2. If i is combined with any of the other alleles, will it be physically expressed? If so, is it dominant or
recessive?
3. What is the main difference between sex-limited and sex-influenced traits?