HEREDITYYYYYYY

2015 July 17
c/o: Aaron, Darcie, Diana, Geeta, Kristin, Rou-Jia
 Introduction
Our “teachable unit”: Heredity module

• Embedded within Introductory Biology course

• Prerequisites: None (high school level biology)
• Student population: First-year students, both majors or
non-majors

Rou-Jia
 Introduction
Our “teachable unit”: Heredity module

• Embedded within Introductory Biology course

• Prerequisites: None (high school level biology)
• Student population: First-year students, both majors or
non-majors
Our “teachable tidbit”: Sex-linked traits

Rou-Jia
 Introduction
Our “teachable unit”: Heredity module
Goals

Our “teachable tidbit”: Sex-linked traits

Objectives

Rou-Jia
 Introduction
Our “teachable unit”: Heredity module
Goals
1) Understand how genes and chromosomes relate to traits
2) Appreciate how traits are passed on from parents to
offspring
3) Comprehend the inheritance of genetic disorders
Our “teachable tidbit”: Sex-linked traits
Objectives

Rou-Jia
 Introduction
Our “teachable unit”: Heredity module
Goals
1) Understand how genes and chromosomes relate to traits
2) Appreciate how traits are passed on from parents to
offspring
3) Comprehend the inheritance of genetic disorders
Our “teachable tidbit”: Sex-linked traits
Objectives
1) Be able to diagram a single-trait sex-linked cross and
predict genotypic/phenotypic percentages.
2) Determine if a genetic disorder is sex-linked by
analyzing a pedigree.
3) Distinguish between dominant versus recessive
genetic disorders.
Rou-Jia
 Prior knowledge
From the previous class:
Concepts/definitions students should be familiar with:
• heterozygous vs homozygous
• recessive vs dominant
• genotype vs phenotype
• carrier
• autosomal single-trait crosses
• Punnett squares

Aaron
 Sex-linked traits
What is a sex-linked trait?!?

Aaron
 Sex-linked traits
What is a sex-linked trait?!?
Definition: A trait whose gene is located on a sex chromosome
(almost always the X-chromosome).

Aaron
 Sex-linked traits
What is a sex-linked trait?!?
Definition: A trait whose gene is located on a sex chromosome
(almost always the X-chromosome).

Why is this important/why should we care?

Aaron
 Sex-linked traits
What is a sex-linked trait?!?
Definition: A trait whose gene is located on a sex chromosome
(almost always the X-chromosome).

Why is this important/why should we care?

Common sex-linked diseases:
• Colorblindness
• Hemophilia
• Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Implications for genetic counseling

Aaron
 Clicker Question!
Which of the following genotypes is representative of an
affected female for hemophilia, an X-linked recessive disorder?

A. AA
B. Xa Y
C. aa
D. Xa Xa
E. XA Xa

Aaron
 Clicker Question!
Which of the following genotypes is representative of an
affected female for hemophilia, an X-linked recessive disorder?

A. AA
B. Xa Y
C. aa
D. XaXa
E. XA Xa

Aaron
 Clicker Question round 2
Which of the following genotypes is representative of a carrier
for hemophilia, an X-linked recessive disorder?

A. AA
B. Xa Y
C. aa
D. Xa Xa
E. XA Xa

Aaron
 Clicker Question round 2
Which of the following genotypes is representative of a carrier
for hemophilia, an X-linked recessive disorder?

A. AA
B. Xa Y
C. aa
D. Xa Xa
E. XAXa

Aaron
 Clicker Question round 2
Which of the following genotypes is representative of a carrier
for hemophilia, an X-linked recessive disorder?

A. AA
B. Xa Y
C. aa
D. Xa Xa
E. XA Xa

Do you think males can be carriers for sex-linked disorders?

Why?
Aaron
 Pedigrees!
What is a pedigree?
A visual representation of family history for a trait.
Standard notation for analyzing/constructing a pedigree:

Diana
 Pedigrees!
What is a pedigree?
A visual representation of family history for a trait.
Standard notation for analyzing/constructing a pedigree:

Diana
 Pedigrees!
What is a pedigree?
A visual representation of family history for a trait.
Standard notation for analyzing/constructing a pedigree:

Female Male

Diana
 Pedigrees!
What is a pedigree?
A visual representation of family history for a trait.
Standard notation for analyzing/constructing a pedigree:
Mating Line

Female Male

Descent Line

Diana
 Pedigrees!
What is a pedigree?
A visual representation of family history for a trait.
Standard notation for analyzing/constructing a pedigree:
Mating Line
Generation designation:
I, II, III, IV…

Female Male Individual designation:

1, 2, 3, 4…

I.1 I.2
Descent Line

II.1 II.2
Diana
 Pedigrees!
What is a pedigree?
A visual representation of family history for a trait.
Standard notation for analyzing/constructing a pedigree:
Mating Line
Generation designation:
I, II, III, IV…

Female Male Individual designation:

1, 2, 3, 4…

I.1 I.2
Descent Line

Trait Trait
Phenotype designation
Present Absent

II.1 II.2
Diana
 Pedigree activity
Assume the pedigree below displays information about a
recessive, X-linked disorder. Work with a partner to fill in the
phenotypes for generation I individuals and genotypes and
phenotypes for generation II individuals.
Xa Xa XAY XAXA Xa Y

Working together in pairs, fill out the provided worksheet

Kristin
 Pedigrees!
What is a pedigree?
A visual representation of family history for a trait.
Standard notation for analyzing/constructing a pedigree:
Mating Line
Generation designation:
I, II, III, IV…

Female Male Individual designation:

1, 2, 3, 4…

I.1 I.2
Descent Line

Trait Trait
Phenotype designation
Present Absent

II.1 II.2
Kristin
 Pedigree activity
Assume the pedigree below displays information about a
recessive, X-linked disorder. Work with a partner to fill in the
phenotypes for generation I individuals and genotypes and
phenotypes for generation II individuals.
Xa Xa XAY XAXA Xa Y

Working together in pairs, fill out the provided worksheet

Kristin
 Pedigree activity
Assume the pedigree below displays information about a
recessive, X-linked disorder. Work with a partner to fill in the
phenotypes for generation I individuals and genotypes and
phenotypes for generation II individuals.
Xa Xa XAY XAXA Xa Y

XAXa Xa Y XAXa

Working together in pairs, fill out the provided worksheet

Kristin
 What about Generation III?
If II.2 and II.3 have children:
1) Is it possible for them to show the trait?
2) If so, can both boys and/or girls show the trait?
Xa Xa XAY XAXA Xa Y

XAXa Xa Y XAXa

Kristin
 Mating activity for Generation III!
Instructions

You have each received a pair of cards representing alleles for

the proud parents-to-be from Generation II. Now:

1) Find a partner with the opposite color cards.

2) Hold your cards behind your back, one in each hand.
3) Have your partner randomly select one of your hands.
4) Place your selected card on the table.
5) Repeat 3-4 with your partner’s cards.
6) Now define your offspring’s genotype.
7) ONE OF YOU report your offspring by clicking the
appropriate choice.
Geeta
 Mating activity for Generation III!
Click in the resulting genotype of your offspring!
A. Xa Xa
B. XA Xa
C. Xa Y Xa Xa XAY XAXA Xa Y
D. XA Y

XAXa Xa Y XAXa

Geeta
 Main takeways from today
• You should be able to define what a sex-linked trait is and
understand their heredity.
• You should be able to analyze a pedigree and predict the
phenotypes and genotypes of the offspring.

Darcie
Summative Assessments

Darcie
1) Colorblindness is an X-linked recessive trait. If a father who is XRY has
children with an XrXr mother, what is the probability (percentage) that
a daughter born to the couple would be colorblind?

a. 0%
b. 25%
c. 50%
d. 75%
e. 100%

Darcie
1) Analyze the following pedigree for the pattern of inheritance, and answer the following
questions. Assume that individuals II-1 and II-4 do not have the detrimental allele.

Is this a dominant or recessive trait? Additionally, circle the couple that best supports your reasoning and
explain.

Is this a sex-linked trait? Why or why not?

Darcie
What is the genotype of individual I-1? Explain your reasoning.