Honors Biology Genetics Review

I. In order to understand genetics, you must know what the following terms mean and how to apply
them. Give examples of the following.
1. Hybrid genotype –Same as a heterozygous genotype, when it is a normal allele and a broken allele; big and little. The
organism will have the trait of the dominant allele, but its physical look may mix the traits.
2. Heterozygous genotype –Same as a hybrid genotype, it has a normal allele and a broken allele, big and little alleles.
The organism will have the trait of the dominant allele, but its physical look may mix the
3. Purebred genotype/true traits.
breeding – This is when the genotype is either both broken/small alleles or both normal/big
alleles.
4. Phenotype –A phenotype is the physical result or just physical appearance of an organism due to genes inherited.

5. Homozygous dominant genotype – Two big/dominant alleles that compose a genotype.

6. Homozygous recessive genotype – Two small/recessive alleles that compose a genotype.

7. Explain what a gene is and how an allele is different than a gene.

A gene is the DNA that casuses a particular trait that is biologically inherited; alleles make up a genotype and can identify things
about the gene. They tell you the type of gene it is and what trait the person received from that genotype combination. Alleles are
the forms of a trait
II. Make sure you understand Mendel’s three laws. Below are examples of the three laws, which you
are to identify.
1. A Punnett square has a cross in the middle that prevents you from putting two of the same parent’s
alleles together inside the Punnett square. Which of Mendel’s laws does this model?
Law of segregation

2. The show “Little People Big World” features two dwarfs who actually had tall children. Using a
Punnett square, show this cross and explain which of Mendel’s laws caused this outcome.
Law of Dominance

3. A diploid gamete has the following alleles, Aa and Bb on two sets of homologous chromosomes (4 in
all). What alleles would be found in the haploid gametes and which of Mendel’s laws does this
represent?
Law of A, a, B, b
independent ____ ____ ____ ____
assortment

4. Dimples are represented by D (d – no dimples) and split brow by S (s – unibrow). Show the different
letter combinations that would go outside the Punnett square of an individual who is hybrid for both
traits. Which of Mendel’s principles requires you to consider all the possible combinations?
III. Make sure you can interpret a genetics problem and convert it into a Punnett square.
1. Cross two individuals that are hybrids for tongue rolling and determine their genotypic and
phenotypic ratios. Genotypic ratio –

Phenotypic ratio –

2. When white cattle and red cattle are crossed they produce a roan. Roan cattle have pinkish brown
hair that is a mix of white and red (Each hair is pinkish brown). Complete a Punnett square showing this
cross.

Genotypic ratio –

Phenotypic ratio –

3. What kind of inheritance pattern is shown in the problem above (2)? List 2 ways this type of cross is
different than a simple dominance cross.
Incomplete Dominance
Incomplete dominance uses capital letters for all the alleles and neither of the parents traits show up versus one of them

4. Short hair is dominant to long hair in dogs and straight hair is dominant to curly. Show a cross
between two dogs that are hybrids for both traits.

Phenotypic ratios (4 of them):

IV. Be able to identify examples of cases that are exceptions to Mendel’s basic ideas.
1. Using the description provided, complete the missing columns of the table.

Inheritance Pattern Definition Example

1. A trait determined by 2 alleles,
but the gene has more than two
forms of alleles.
2. A type of inheritance that occurs
when an individual inherits at
least 4 alleles for one trait (2
alleles from each parent).
3. A trait caused when two alleles
exert equal influence on the
offspring’s phenotype.
4. An inheritance pattern in which
the offspring have a phenotype
which doesn’t look like either
parent.
 V. Understand the purpose of meiosis and be able to identify phases and what key events are
occurring in each of them.
1. Draw a tetrad showing crossing over. When does this happen and why is it important?

2. Draw two homologous chromosomes side by side. Distinguish the homologous chromosomes from
the sister chromatids. How do homologous chromosomes compare to each other and how do sister
chromatids compare?
Homologous chromosomes the same genes but different alleles.
Sister chromatids are identical DNA with the same alleles.

3. Show what happens to 2 pairs of homologous chromosomes during anaphase and explain the
significance of this phase.
This is significant because it allows for chromosomes to be
separated if they have like traits, segregation then happens.
Otherwise there would be duplicate alleles. They have to be in
separate cells and gametes must be haploid. That way, there are no
trait duplicates.

4. Draw anaphase II for the chromosomes identified above. Explain why this step is important.

5. Explain the overall point of meiosis. In your explanation use the terms diploid and haploid.

Law of The overall point of meiosis is to split the chromosome amounts in cells/a diploid - has the full amount of
segregation chromosomes - into 4 haploid gametes - has half the full number of chromosomes. This gives traits and
- The traits such to the gametes so that if they fertilize another gamete, they can make a full cell and produce an
are organism.
separated
Law of VI. Explain the experiments that helped determine the relationship between genes and chromosomes.
independen
t 1. How did Morgan know that certain genes are linked in fruit flies?
assortment
- The traits'
inheritance
would be
independen 2. How did Morgan’s student figure out how far apart genes were on the fruit fly chromosome?
t of one
another