Section 17
Inheritance
c) monohybrid inheritance
objectives
1. Identify Alles types
2.Analyse punnett square
3.Describe the inheritance of sex in humans
Recall the difference between gene and allele
Different versions of genes
Chromosomes in a homologous pair contain the same type of
genes that code for the same characteristics, such as eye colour.
Each chromosome in the pair,
however, may have a different
version of the gene. allele for allele for
For example, the version of brown blue
a gene on one chromosome eyes eyes
may code for brown eyes,
whereas the version of the gene on the
other chromosome may code for blue eyes.
Each different version of a gene is called an allele.
Homozygous alleles
If the alleles for a characteristic in a homologous pair are
the same, the organism is said to be homozygous for that
characteristic.
What colour eyes will these homozygous pairs of alleles
produce?
allele for allele for allele for allele for
brown brown blue blue
eyes eyes eyes eyes
Heterozygous alleles
If the alleles for a characteristic in a homologous pair are
different, the organism is said to be heterozygous for that
characteristic.
What colour eyes will this heterozygous pair of alleles
produce?
?
allele for allele for The characteristic expressed
brown blue by heterozygous alleles will
eyes eyes depend on which allele is
dominant and which allele is
recessive.
Dominant or recessive?
The phenotype for a particular characteristic depends on which
allele is dominant and which allele is recessive.
● Dominant alleles are always expressed in a cell’s phenotype.
Only one copy of the dominant allele needs to be inherited in
order for it to be expressed. Dominant alleles (e.g. brown
eyes) are represented by an uppercase letter (e.g. ‘B’).
● Recessive alleles are only expressed in a cell’s
phenotype if two copies of it are present. If only one copy
is present, its effect is ‘masked’ by the dominant allele.
Recessive alleles (e.g. blue eyes) are represented by a
lowercase letter (e.g. ‘b’).
genetic cross
Mother = Ee Father = Ee
unattached Earlobes unattached Earlobes
what percentage
of their offspring
are likely to have
attached earlobes?
Sex Determination
Sex Determination
Sex Determination
● Sex is determined by an entire chromosome pair (as
opposed to most other characteristics that are just
determined by one or a number of genes)
● Females have the sex chromosomes XX
● Males have the sex chromosomes XY
● As only a father can pass on a Y chromosome, he is
responsible for determining the sex of the child.
The inheritance of sex can be shown using a
genetic diagram (known as a Punnett square)
Interactive Worksheet:
https://www.liveworksheets.com/worksheets/
en/Science/Science/Punnett_Square_av16952
86oh
I will ask some students to share their screens
to discuss with the class
