Lesson 1.

Mendelian Laws of
Inheritance

General Biology 2
1/2
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
How did the experiments of
Gregor Mendel lay the foundation
for the study of transmission
genetics?

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Learning Competency
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:

Predict genotypes and phenotypes of parents and

offspring using the laws of inheritance
(STEM_BIO11/12-IIIa-b-1).

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 Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:

● Explain the foundations and development of

Mendelian genetics.

● Describe and apply the Mendelian laws of

inheritance.

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Introduction to Inheritance

Genetics answers
most of our inquiries
about how traits are
transmitted from
parents to their
children.

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Introduction to Inheritance

Genetics

Heredity Variation
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 Introduction to Inheritance

Molecular genetics Cytogenetics

Branches
of
Genetics

Transmission genetics Population genetics

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 Introduction to Inheritance

Molecular genetics Cytogenetics

deals with DNA and
gene expression and
regulation. Branches
of
Genetics

Transmission genetics Population genetics

8
 Introduction to Inheritance

Molecular genetics Cytogenetics deals with

chromosome structure
and behavior during cell
Branches division.
of
Genetics

Transmission genetics Population genetics

9
 Introduction to Inheritance

Molecular genetics Cytogenetics

Branches
of
Genetics

Transmission genetics
deals with different
patterns of inheritance. Population genetics
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 Introduction to Inheritance

Molecular genetics Cytogenetics

Branches
of
Genetics Population genetics
deals with how
forces of evolution
influence genes in
Transmission genetics populations.
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 Introduction to Inheritance

Transmission genetics, also called classical genetics, is the oldest

subdiscipline of genetics. It attempts to predict outcomes of reproduction.
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Brief Background of Gregor Mendel

Farm Father of
Tender Genetics

Augustinian
Beekeeper
Academician Monk

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Brief Background of Gregor Mendel

Mendel took the path to

priesthood when he
entered Augustinian
monastery of St.
Thomas and became
monk. This is also
where he performed his
pea plant studies.

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 Pea Plant Hybridization

Mendel chose
the legumes
garden peas or
Pisum sativum
for his
hybridization
experiments.

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Pea Plant Hybridization

They can
self-
fertilize.
They
What makes exhibit They can
peas ideal
for genetic vigorous cross-
studies? growth. fertilize.

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 Challenges faced by Mendel

Pangenesis

Previous Notions Homunculus

of Inheritance theory

Blending
theory
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 Challenges faced by Mendel

Previous Notions
of Inheritance

Pangenesis

Homunculus
theory

Blending
theory

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 Challenges faced by Mendel

Previous Notions
of Inheritance

Pangenesis

Homunculus
theory

Blending
theory Pangenesis was the belief that seeds are
produced in different organs and will later
on gather to form the offspring. 19
 Challenges faced by Mendel

Previous Notions
of Inheritance

Pangenesis

Homunculus
theory

Blending
theory The invention of the microscope made
people believe that sperm cells bear a
homunculus or little man. 20
 Challenges faced by Mendel

Previous Notions
of Inheritance

Pangenesis

Homunculus
theory

Blending
theory The blending theory of inheritance states
that traits of parents blend every
generation of offspring. 21
 Rediscovery of Mendel’s Work

Hugo de Vries Carl Correns Erich von Tschermak

(1848–1935) (1864–1933) (1871–1962)

Mendel’s paper, The Experiments on Plant Hybridization, was rediscovered

independently by de Vries, Correns, and von Tschermak in 1900s. 22
Review of Genetic Terminologies

A chromosome consists of a
DNA molecule, which serve as
the repository of genetic
information in cells.
Review of Genetic Terminologies

Our chromosomes occur in pairs

called homologous chromosomes.

Paternal (from the father or male parent)

Maternal (from the mother or female parent)

Review of Genetic Terminologies

A gene is the basic unit of heredity.

It controls the expression of a
biological characteristic.

A characteristic is a heritable
feature of an organism.
Review of Genetic Terminologies

In our given example, the gene

controls height of peas.
Review of Genetic Terminologies

Also, note that genes occur in pairs.

Thus, a pair of genes control a
particular characteristic.
Review of Genetic Terminologies

How about this gene pair?

What does it control?
Review of Genetic Terminologies

How about this gene pair?

What does it control?

The highlighted gene

controls seed shape in peas.
Review of Genetic Terminologies

Alleles are
the alternative
forms of a
gene.
Review of Genetic Terminologies

Genotype refers to the set of alleles

possessed by an organism.
Review of Genetic Terminologies

The genotype is
homozygous if
the alleles are
identical.
Review of Genetic Terminologies

The genotype is
heterozygous if
the alleles are
different.
Review of Genetic Terminologies

Let’s say that the given chromosomes give

rise to the following observable traits:

Tall Round-seeded
Phenotypes refer to the actual manifestation
of genotypes into observable traits.
Review of Genetic Terminologies

If the phenotype for seed shape is round, then

we can conclude that:

The allele for round pea is

the dominant allele.

The allele for wrinkled pea is

the recessive allele.
How are the alleles of a gene
transmitted from parents to
offspring?

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Monohybrid Cross

Principle of
Dominance
If we assign letters to each allele :

T - tall
t - dwarf
Thus, we will have the corresponding genotypes and phenotypes :

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 Monohybrid Cross

Principle of
Dominance
If we assign letters to each allele :

T - tall
t - dwarf
Thus, we will have the corresponding genotypes and phenotypes :

TT - tall Tt - tall tt - dwarf

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 Monohybrid Cross

Thus, we can have the genetic cross as follows:

Phenotypes Genotypes

P generation Tall × Dwarf TT × tt

Phenotypic Ratio (PR): Genotypic Ratio (GR):

F1 generation 100% or All Tall 100% or All Tt

F2 generation 3/4 Tall: 1/4 Dwarf 1/4 TT: 2/4 Tt: 1/4 tt
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Monohybrid Cross

Law of Segregation

The two alleles of a gene in an individual

segregate or separate from each other
during gamete formation.

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Dihybrid Cross

In this example, the seed shape and

seed color are involved.

Two pairs of contrasting traits are

involved: round/wrinkled and
yellow/green.

Both parents must also be true-

breeding or homozygous.

All of the offspring in F1 have round

and yellow seeds due to dominance.
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 Dihybrid Cross

Result 2:
The phenotypes in the F2
generation occur in a ratio
of 9:3:3:1

Explanation:
The genes for seed shape
and color are independently
assorting.

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 Dihybrid Cross

Law of Independent Assortment

The alleles from different genes are sorted

into the gametes independently of each
other. Thus, the inheritance of these two
genes become independent.

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 Let’s Practice!

In pea plants, round seeds are dominant over wrinkled seeds,

while the tall trait is dominant over the dwarf trait. If you cross
two plants that are both heterozygous for seed shape but
homozygous dominant for height, what are the expected
genotypic and phenotypic ratios of the offspring?

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 Let’s Practice!

In pea plants, round seeds are dominant over wrinkled seeds,

while the tall trait is dominant over the dwarf trait. If you cross
two plants that are both heterozygous for seed shape but
homozygous dominant for height, what are the expected
genotypic and phenotypic ratios of the offspring?

The genotypic ratio of the offspring of the cross is 1/4 AABB:

2/4 AaBB: 1/4 aaBB. The phenotypic ratio is 3/4 round tall:
1/4 wrinkled tall.
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 Check Your Understanding

Determine the accuracy of each of the following

statements. Write true if the statement is correct and false
if otherwise.
1. If the genes for seed shape and height of peas are
independently assorting, then they highly influence the
inheritance of each other.
2. The F2 generation is the offspring of the P generation.
3. Both the laws of inheritance operate during the first
anaphase of meiosis.
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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● Genetics is the study of inheritance and variation

in organisms. It has various subdisciplines.
Transmission genetics is the one that is
particularly concerned about the mechanisms or
patterns of inheritance.

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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● Gregor Mendel is the father of genetics. He

performed experiments on garden pea or Pisum
sativum. This led him to formulate the laws of
inheritance in his publication, Experiments on
Plant Hybrids.

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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● Different genes control the expression of the

characteristics of organisms. Each gene exists in
alternative forms called alleles.

● In terms of expression, genes can either be

dominant or recessive. According to the principle
of dominance of Mendel, in a heterozygous
individual, the dominant allele tends to mask the
expression of the recessive allele. 49
 Let’s Sum It Up!

Transmission genetics serves as the pioneer field in genetics.

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