Patterns of Inheritance

What patterns can be observed

when traits are passed to the
next generation?
Use of the Garden Pea for Genetics Experiments
 Principles of Heredity
Mendel’s Experiment with Peas

Round seed x Wrinkled seed

F1: All round seed coats

F1 round plants x F1 round plants

F2: 5474 round: 1850 wrinkled

(3/4 round to 1/4 wrinkled)
 Principles of Heredity

Mendel needed to explain

1. Why one trait seemed to disappear

in the first generation.

2. Why the same trait reappeared in

the second generation in one-fourth
of the offspring.
 Principles of Heredity
Mendel proposed:

1. Each trait is governed by two

factors – now called genes.

2. Genes are found in alternative

forms called alleles.

3. Some alleles are dominant and

mask alleles that are recessive.
Principles of Heredity
Mendel’s Experiment with Peas

Round seed x Wrinkled seed

RR rr
Homozygous Homozygous
Dominant Recessive

F1: All round seed coats

Rr
Heterozygous
Homozygous parents can only pass one
form of an allele to their offspring.

R R R R
Heterozygous parents can pass either
of two forms of an allele to their offspring.

R r R r
 Principles of Heredity

Additional Genetic Terms

Genotype: alleles carried by an

individual eg. RR, Rr, rr

Phenotype: physical characteristic or

appearance of an individual
eg. Round, wrinkled
 Mendel’s Principle of Genetic
Segregation

In the formation of gametes, the members of a

pair of alleles separate (or segregate) cleanly
from each other so that only one member is
included in each gamete.

Each gamete has an equal probability of

containing either member of the allele pair.
 Genetic Segregation
Parentals: F1 x F1:
RR x rr Rr x Rr
 Genetic Segregation

Genotypic Ratio:

Phenotypic Ratio:
Seven Traits used by Mendel in Genetic Studies
 What Is a Gene?

• A gene is a segment of DNA that directs

the synthesis of a specific protein.

• DNA is transcribed into RNA which is

translated into protein.
 Molecular Basis for Dominant and
Recessive Alleles

Dominant Allele Codes for a functional

protein

Recessive Allele Codes for a non-

functional protein or
prevents any protein
product from forming
 Principles of Heredity
Mendel’s Experiment with Peas

Round Yellow x Wrinkled Green

F1: All round yellow seed coats

F1 plants x F1 plants

F2: 315 round, yellow 9/16

108 round, green 3/16
101 wrinkled, yellow 3/16
32 wrinkled, green 1/16
 Principles of Heredity

Mendel needed to explain

1. Why non-parental combinations

appeared in the F2 offspring.

2. Why the ratio of phenotypes in the

F2 generation was 9:3:3:1.
 Mendel’s Principle of
Independent Assortment

When gametes are formed, the

alleles of one gene segregate
independently of the alleles of
another gene producing equal
proportions of all possible gamete
types.
 Genetic Segregation +
Independent Assortment
Parentals:
RRYY x rryy

F1:
 F1 x F1:
RrYy x RrYy
 F2 Genotypes and Phenotypes

Phenotypes Genotypes
Round
Yellow
Round
Green

Wrinkled Yellow

Wrinkled Green
Meiotic Segregation explains Independent Assortment
 Solving Genetics Problems

1. Convert parental phenotypes to

genotypes
2. Use Punnett Square to determine
genotypes of offspring
3. Convert offspring genotypes to
phenotypes
A Trihybrid Cross Example
• Using Mendel’s Sweet Peas A trihybrid cross is between two
individuals that are heterozygous for three different traits. We will
build on previous examples and again examine pea shape and
pea color and then a new trait: pod shape. The same rules as
before apply for shape and color (round is completely dominant
to wrinkled, and green is completely dominant to yellow). Pea
pod shape follows similar rules, with smooth pods being
completely dominant to constricted pods. Therefore,
homozygous-dominant and heterozygous individuals will have
smooth pods, while homozygous-recessive individuals will have
constricted pea pods. Our trihybrid cross example: RrYyCc x
RrYyCc is a trihybrid cross