SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

10th GRADE BIOLOGY

UNIT 7: DOES TESTING SAVE LIVES
CHAPTER 8 ETEXT
TOPIC 2: MENDELIAN GENETICS
UNIT 7: DOES TESTING SAVE LIVES?
TOPIC 2: MENDELIAN GENETICS
Success criteria:
 Distinguish between homozygous and heterozygous genotypes and describe how recessive and dominant alleles
produce particular phenotypes when expressed in these genotypes.
 Demonstrate how to use a Punnett square to predict the likelihood of a particular offspring genotype and
phenotype from a cross of two individuals with known genotype.

• Phenotype: ____________________________________________________________________
• Genotype: _____________________________________________________________________

 Homozygous: _______________________________________________________________
 Heterozygous: ______________________________________________________________

• Recessive: _____________________________________________________________________
 • Dominant: _____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

GENETIC DISEASES IN HUMANS

DOMINANT
 Huntington´s disease: progressive brain
disorder caused by a defective gene. This
disease causes changes in the central area of
the brain, which affect movement, mood and
thinking skills.
RECESSIVE
Krabbe disease: Affected children appear
normal at birth; there is progressive and
severe deterioration of mental and motor
skills due to myelin loss; Most die by age 3.

 Achondroplasia: its primary feature is  Galactosemia: inability to digest sugar which

dwarfism. In those with the condition, the causes sugar accumulation in various organs.
arms and legs are short, while the torso is
typically of normal length. Those affected
have an average adult height of 131 cm for
males and 123 cm for females.

 Marfan syndrome: affects the connective
tissue. Those with the condition tend to be
tall and thin, with long arms, legs, fingers,
and toes; They also typically have overly
flexible joints and scoliosis. The most serious
complications involve the heart and aorta.
The lungs, eyes, bones, and the covering of
the spinal cord are also commonly affected.
Cystic fibrosis: Most common recessive
disease in Europeans; 1 in 2500 affected in
European populations; 1 in 25 is
heterozygous carrier; Defect in chloride ion
transport in the lungs; Produces thick, sticky
mucus that builds up in lungs and digestive
system; Average lifespan only 40 years.

Carriers: heterozygotes for a recessive disease

• Not affected by the disease

• Can pass the trait to the next generation
• Child receives disease if both parents are carriers

Using Punnett Squares to Predict Genotypes

• Punnett square: table listing possible gametes and predicting possible outcomes of a cross
(mating between two parents)
– Developed by Reginald Punnett in 1905

‒ Consider a cross between two carriers of the mutant GALC gene for Krabbe disease
“G” = normal allele; “g” = recessive disease allele
The cross would be Gg × Gg
What offspring could result?
 • Dihybrid cross (two genes): mating crosses that involve two traits
‒ Determine the possible gametes for pea seeds
Round (R) is dominant to wrinkled (r)
Yellow (Y) is dominant to green (y)
‒ For a cross: RrYy × RrYy
Possible ovule types for parent 1:
RY, Ry, rY, ry
Possible pollen types for parent 2:
RY, Ry, rY, ry

‒ The cross results in a 9:3:3:1 phenotypic ratio