Laws of Mendelian Genetics

1. Rule of Dominance: DOMINANT vs.

recessive

2. Law of Segregation

3. Law of Independent Assortment

• (Laws of Probability)
 Law of Segregation
• Every individual has two
alleles for each gene.

• During meiosis, both

alleles are separated into
individual gametes.
– (46 reduced to 23: Haploid)

• During fertilization,
gametes from both
parents randomly pair to
produce diploid cells
– (23 + 23 = 46: Diploid)
 Law of Independent Assortment
• Genes for different traits
are inherited
independently of each
other.

• Your chances of inheriting

one trait does not depend
on the result of another
trait

• Example: seed shape

(round or wrinkled) and
seed color (green or
yellow)
BABY STEPS for PUNNETT SQUARES:

1. Determine the genotypes of the parent

organisms.
2. Write down your "cross" (mating).
3. Draw a p-square.
4. “Split" the letters of the genotype for each
parent & put them "outside" the p-square.
5. Determine the possible genotypes of the
offspring by filling in the p-square.
6. Summarize results (genotypes & phenotypes
of offspring).
7. Bask in the glow of your accomplishment !
 Monohybrid Cross
1.Determine the genotypes of the
parent organisms.
A pea plant that is homozygous dominant
for yellow peas (Y) is crossed with a pea
plant that is homozygous recessive for
green peas (y).

Parent plant’s genotype = YY, yy

2. Write down your "cross" (mating).

YY x yy
3. Draw a p-square.
4. “Split" the letters of the genotype
for each parent & put them "outside"
the p-square.
y y

Y
5. Determine the possible genotypes
of the offspring by filling in the
p-square.

y y

Y Yy Yy

Y Yy Yy
6. Summarize results (genotypes
& phenotypes of offspring).

Genotypes: 4 Yy

Phenotypes: 4 Yellow Pea Plants

Two of the offspring from the previous
Punnett Square are crossed. Both of the
offspring are heterozygous. What is the
expected genotype and phenotype??
• 1. Determine the genotypes of the
parents.

Yy, Yy
2. Write down the cross mating.

Yy x Yy

X
3. Draw a P-square.
4. Split the letters for the genotype of
each parent and add them to the
outside of the p-square.
Y y

y
5. Determine the possible genotypes
of offspring in the p-square.

Y y

Y YY Yy

y Yy yy
6. Summarize results (genotypes
& phenotypes of offspring)

• Genotypes: 1 YY, 2 Yy, 1 yy

• Phenotypes: 3 yellow, 1 green

3 1
 Dihybrid Cross
1. Determine the genotype of the
parents.
Two pea plants are crossed that are
heterozygous smooth (S) and yellow (Y).
SsYy, SsYy
2. Write down the cross mating.
SsYy x SsYy
3. Draw a p-square.
4. “Split” the letters of the genotype for
each parent.

Ss Yy

SY Sy sY sy
Dihybrid Cross
*Note: capital
letter goes first!
*Notes: Capital letter
always goes first.