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CHAPTER 4 : GENETIC INHERITANCE

SUBTOPIC 4.1 : MENDELIAN GENETICS (MONOHYBRID AND DIHYBRID)

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
a) State the terminologies used in genetic inheritance : allele, gene, locus, genotype, phenotype,
homozygous, heterozygous, dominant, recessive, self-cross and test cross.
b) Explain monohybrid cross.
c) State Mendel’s First Law (Law of Segregation).
d) Show genetic diagram on the monohybrid self-cross and include the genotypic ratio (1:2:1)
and phenotypic ratio (3:1) of F2 generation.
e) Show genetic diagram on the monohybrid test cross and include the genotypic ratio (1:1)
and phenotypic ratio (1:1) of F2 generation.
f) Explain dihybrid cross.
g) State Mendel’s Second Law (Law of Independent Assortment).
h) Show genetic diagram on dihybrid self-cross and include only phenotypic ratio (9:3:3:1) of
F2 generation using Punnett square.
i) Show genetic diagram on dihybrid test cross and include the genotypic ratio (1:1:1:1) and
phenotypic ratio (1:1:1:1) of F2 generation using Punnett square.

MAIN IDEAS /
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Terminologies 1) Alleles
used in genetic
inheritance Alternative forms of a gene
for a trait occupying the
same locus on homologous
chromosomes.

2) Genes

A hereditary unit consisting of

a specific nucleotide sequence
in DNA that determines
specific phenotype
of an organism.
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3) Locus
Specific position on a
homologous chromosome
where a gene is located

4) Genotype

Genetic composition of an individual;

combination of alleles possessed by
an individual.

5) Phenotype

The observable characteristics of

an organism determined by
genotypes

6) Homozygous

An organism having a pair of

identical alleles of a gene
for a particular trait.

7) Heterozygous

An organism having TWO different

alleles of a gene for a particular trait.
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8) Dominant

An allele which express its

phenotype even in
heterozygous form //
An allele that masks the effect
of recessive allele
paired with it

9) Recessive

An allele that only express its

phenotype when present in the
homozygous form //
An allele that its effect is masked
by dominant allele paired with it

10) Self cross

A cross between organisms of same generation
for example the crossing between individuals in first filial (F1)
generation

11) Test cross

A cross between an organism of recessive phenotype with another
organism of dominant phenotype but unknown genotype

Definition of monohybrid cross :

Monohybrid • Crossing between parents of one character with different phenotypes
cross derived from one gene
For example : crossing between tall pea plant with dwarf pea plant
The character is height of pea plant.
The two different phenotypes are tall pea plant and dwarf pea plant
Mendel's First Each characteristic is controlled by two factors (alleles) which
Law (Law of separate (segregate) and each factor (allele) is transferred to each
Segregation) gamete.
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Monohybrid In peas, the allele for round seeds (A) is dominant over the allele for
Self Cross and wrinkled seeds (a). A cross is done between plant with homozygous
Monohybrid round seeds and the wrinkled seeds plant, producing F1 generation.
Test Cross Draw genetic diagrams to show the F2 genotypic and phenotypic ratios if

a) F1 is self crossed
b) F1 is test crossed
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Dihybrid cross Definition of dihybrid cross :

Crossing between parents of two characters with different phenotypes

derived from two genes.
For example : crossing between yellow, round seeds plant with green,
wrinkled seeds plant.
The characters are height and shape of seed.
The different phenotypes for height are tall and dwarf while the other
different phenotypes for seed shape are round and wrinkled.

Mendel’s Each pair of alleles segregate (separate) independently of other

Second Law pairs of alleles during gamete formation.
(Law of
Independent
Assortment)
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Dihybrid Self In peas, the allele for round seeds (A) is dominant over the allele for
Cross and wrinkled seeds (a) and the allele for yellow seeds (B) is dominant over
Dihybrid Test the allele for green seeds (b). A cross is done between plant with
Cross homozygous round, yellow seeds and the wrinkled, green seeds plant
to produce the F1 generation. Draw genetic diagrams to show the F2
genotypic and phenotypic ratios if

i) F1 is self-crossed
ii) F1 is test crossed
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SUMMARY :
MONOHYBRID AND DIHYBRID
SELF CROSS AND TEST CROSS
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CHAPTER 4 : GENETIC INHERITANCE

SUBTOPIC 4.2 : DEVIATIONS FROM THE MENDELIAN INHERITANCE

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
a) Define and give example of each types of inheritance that deviate from Mendelian
inheritance :
i. Codominant alleles (e.g. Human MN blood group)
ii. Incomplete dominant allele (e.g. Antirrhinum sp.)
iii. Multiple alleles (Human ABO blood group)
iv. Polygene/ polygenic inheritance (Human skin colour)
v. Linked genes (Wing size and body colour of Drosophila sp.)
vi. Sex-linked genes (Haemophilia)

MAIN IDEAS /
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• A form of inheritance in which two dominant alleles are fully
Codominant expressed in heterozygous genotype
alleles • Heterozygous genotype displays a different phenotype from the
phenotypes of homozygous genotypes.
• Example : Human MN blood group

Incomplete • A form of inheritance in which one allele for a specific trait is not
dominant alleles completely dominant over the other allele.
• Heterozygous genotype show intermediate phenotype of both parent
• Example : Color of snapdragon flower (Antirrhinum sp.)
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• A form of inheritance in which one gene is controlled by more than
Multiple alleles
two alleles / More than two alleles control for particular trait of a
character
• Each individual has only two alleles that can occupy gene loci on
homologous chromosome.
• Example : Human ABO blood groups – is controlled by three alleles
IA, IB and i. Alleles IA and IB are dominant while allele i is recessive

Polygenes / • A form of inheritance in which one characteristic is controlled by

polygenic many / more than two genes.
inheritance • Each gene is located on different chromosomes
• Example : human skin color.
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• A form of inheritance in which two or more genes that determine
Linked genes different characteristic located on same chromosome.
• Example : body color and wing size in Drosophila sp..

• Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes. 22 pairs are autosome and the

Sex-linked
genes last pair, chromosome 23 is the sex chromosomes.
• Genes on sex chromosome is known as sex-linked genes.
• Most sex-linked trait are controlled by genes on the X chromosome.
• In males, Y chromosome is smaller compared to X chromosome.
• Y chromosome carries so few genes e.g. genes for development of
reproductive organs and male characteristics)
• One example of sex-linked disease is haemophilia
• Males are usually suffered from sex-linked disease due to the presence
of only one X chromosome in their sex chromosome.
• Females are usually carrier (phenotypically normal but carry the
recessive allele). This is due to the presence of two X chromosomes in
sex chromosomes of female.
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