EXPERIMENT 6:

LINKAGE AND SEX LINKAGE

Introduction

Linkage

Genes located in the same chromosomes are said to be linked. Alleles located on the same
homolog, therefore, can be transmitted together during gamete formation. However,
crossing over between homologs during meiosis results in the reshuffling of alleles and
thereby contributes to genetic variability within gametes. As a result, genes belonging to the
same linkage group usually do not show independently assortment.

Exchange of chromatid material within tetrad is known to take place during Prophase I
meiosis. When a line of breakage occurs at a crossover point (chiasma) between shared
genes they become separates; a reconstituted chromatid is then termed a recombinant.

Problems and discussion

1. Pollen from a plant known to be heterozygous for alleles X and Y

was used to fertilize a plant which was xxyy. Of the 500 seeds
collected and germinated 230 had the genotype XxYy and 227
were xxyy.

a) Does this indicate linkage?

b) If so, what are the linkage groups involved?
c) Show, diagrammatically, the chromosomes and alleles in the cross.

2. Female Drosophila heterozygous for the recessive genes vestigial

wing (vg) and spineless-bristles (sb) was mated with a male
showing both characteristics in the phenotype. There were four
groups of offspring:

Normal-wing, spine-bristles 222

Normal-wing, spineless-bristles 23
Vestigial-wing, spine-bristle 27
Vestigial-wing, spineless-bristle 228

a) What linkage groups are present?

b) What is the C.O.V vg/sb?
c) Show diagrammatically the chromosomes and their alleles involved in
the cross.

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 3. An inbred of snapdragons with violet flowers and dull leaves was
crossed to another inbred strain with white flowers and shiny
leaves. The F1 plants, which all had violet flowers and dull leaves,
were backcross to the strain with white flowers and shiny leaves,
and the following F2 plants were obtained: 50 violet, dull; 46
white, shiny; 12 violet, shiny; and 10 white, dull.

a) Which of the four classes in the F2 are recombinants?

b) What is the evidence that the genes for flower color and leaf texture
are linked?
c) Diagram the crosses of this experiment.
d) What is the frequency of recombination between the flower color and
leaf texture genes?
e) What is the genetic map distance between these genes?

4. A homozygous variety of maize with red leaves and normal seeds

was crossed with another homozygous variety with green leaves
and tassel seeds. The hybrids were then backcrossed to the green,
tassel-seeded variety, and the following offspring were obtained:
red, normal 124; red, tassel 126; green, normal 125; green, tassel
123. Are the genes for plant color and seed type linked? Explain.

5. The data involved three mutations: bw (brown eyes), c (colorless

eyes), and Blk (black body). In each cross, repulsion heterozygotes
of the genes, and the progeny were scored as having either a
parental or a recombinant genotype. Are any of the three genes
studied in these crosses linked? If so, construct a map of the
linkage relationships.

Cross Heterozygote Progeny Percent

Parental Recombinant Recombination

1 bw +/+ c 850 503 37.2

2 bw +/+ Blk 750 237 24.0

3 c +/+ Blk 629 183 22.5

Sex linkage

In humans and other organisms like Drosophila sex is determined by special sex
chromosomes. In human, the XY male is heterogametic (producing unlike gametes with

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regard to the sex chromosomes) and the XX female is homogametic (producing like gametes
with regard to the sex chromosomes).

Genes that occur on the sex chromosomes are said to be sex-linked. The Y chromosome is
smaller than its homologue, the X chromosome. Consequently, some of the loci present on
the X chromosome are absent on the Y chromosome.

Problems and discussion

1. In Drosophila, an X-linked recessive mutation, scalloped (ds)

causes irregular wing margins. Diagram the F1 and F2 results if

a) A scalloped female is crossed with a normal male.

b) A scalloped male is crossed with a normal female.

Compare these results to those that would be obtained if the scalloped gene is autosomal.

2.
a) A normal sighted women whose father was red-green colorblind
married a man with normal vision. What ratios of genotypes and
phenotypes would be expected among their children?

b) If the system of the woman described in the previous question married

a colorblind man, what is the probability that

i) Their son would be colorblind?

ii) A daughter would be colorblind?

3. In man, hemophilia (the reduced ability of the blood to clot when

exposed, extensive tissue bleeding following bruising, etc.) is sex-
linked and recessive. What offspring phenotypic ratios would be
expected from a marriage between

a) A hemophiliac man and a carrier (heterozygous) woman?

b) A normal man and a carrier woman?

4. The gene for the ability to taste PTC is autosomal and dominant to
non-tasting. Red/green colorblindness is sex-linked and recessive.

A man and his wife, both of whom can taste PTC and have normal vision, have a child
who is colorblind and a non-taster.

a) What is the child’s sex?

b) What is the probability (expected occurrence) of this child’s phenotype
in their children?

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c) What is the probability that a child will be a taster with normal vision,
like its parents?
d) What is the probability that a child will be a non-taster and colorblind,
unlike its parents?

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