X-Sheet 4

Genetics: Inheritance and Terminology

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 Genetics: Inheritance and Terminology

Key Concepts
Genetics is a science and specific terms are used. Make sure that you know and
understand the following terms before you continue.

 Locus: This is the exact position or location of a gene on a chromosome.

 Alleles: A pair of genes that are located at the same point on each of the two
homologous chromosomes and represent a specific trait – one from the father and
one from the mother.
 Homozygous: Homo = same and zygous = zygote. When two alleles of a pair of
genes are the same for one trait e.g.: both alleles are for red flowers, the cross will
result in a pure breed for red.
 Heterozygous: Hetero = different and zygous = zygote. When two alleles of a pair
of genes are different for a trait e.g. one of the alleles is for red flowers and one is
for white flowers, the cross will result in a mixture of the two genes called a hybrid.
 Dominant trait: A heterozygous offspring will display the dominant trait because it
will dominate over the other recessive gene of the allele pair, e.g. red colour will
dominate over the gene for white colour, so the offspring will look red.
The dominant allele is always written with a capital letter: R = red and r = white.
o Homologous dominant alleles means that both genes are the same for
the same dominant trait. It will be represented by RR, which represents
both the genes for red flowers. The offspring will be red because two
dominant genes are present.
o Heterozygous alleles means that one gene is dominant and one gene is
recessive for the same trait, e.g. red flowers. It will be represented by Rr,
which represents one gene for red and one gene for white. The offspring will
display red flowers, because red is dominant over white.

Homozygous dominant Homozygous recessive

RR rr
(pure red) (pure white)

Heterozygous dominant
Rr
(red)

 Recessive trait: The recessive allele is the trait that is dominated over by the
dominant gene. It is written with a small letter: r = white.
o Homologous recessive alleles means that both recessive genes are the
same, i.e.: rr – two genes for are present for white flowers. The offspring
will display the recessive white colour only. The recessive trait will only
ever be seen when it is in the homologous state.
o Heterozygous alleles means that the genes are different with one gene
dominant (red colour) and one gene is recessive (white colour) represented
by Rr. The offspring will display red flowers because red is dominant over
white which is recessive.

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 Genetics: Inheritance and Terminology

 Incomplete dominance: when the dominant gene allele is not able to completely
dominate over the recessive gene allele, a mix of the two genes results, e.g. red +
white = pink. When the offspring is heterozygous with incomplete dominance, you
will be able to see the combination of the two gene alleles traits:

Homozygous dominant Homozygous recessive

RR rr
(pure red) (pure white)

Heterozygous incomplete
dominance
Rr
(pink)

 Co-dominance: Both gene alleles are equally dominant, so the heterozygous

individual expresses both traits. Example: blood type is determined by proteins
that may or may not be present on the surface of the red blood cells. Protein A
and protein B are coded by alleles A and B and if no protein A or B is present,
then these cells will be coded by the allele O. The alleles A and B are co-
dominant and A and B completely dominant allele O.
 Genotype: This is the genetic composition of an organism and represents the
information that is present in the gene alleles, for example RR, Rr, rr. You cannot
see this because it is in the genes.
 Phenotype: This is the physical appearance of an individual, i.e. what you will
see when you look at the offspring. The phenotype is determined by the genotype.
You will see white flowers for rr, but you will see red flowers if the genotype is RR
or Rr.
 Monohybrid cross: Mono = ONE so, when one pair of contrasting traits is
crossed to determine the possible inheritance of the offspring. There will be 4
possible combinations that result from the cross –
2 possibilities from the male and 2 possibilities from the female (2 x 2 = 4).

1 2 Male
F 1
e
m 2
a
l
e Results in 4 combinations

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 Genetics: Inheritance and Terminology

 Filial generation: The parents are represented by P1. The parents reproduce to
produce offspring that result from the cross. The offspring are the first filial
generation and this is represented by F1. When the offspring become mature and
reproduce, they are represented by P2. Their offspring will be the second filial
generation represented by F2.
 Punnit square: This is a schematic representation of a cross. Take careful note of
the way the information is written. The example below: one parent is BB and the
other is bb

B = brown hair colour

b = blonde hair colour

P1 BB x bb 

gametes B B 
b Bb Bb

b Bb Bb 

F1
Genotype: 4:4 Bb heterozygous offspring  (always include the
ratios)
Phenotype: 100% brown  (always include the %)

X-ample Questions
1. People with albinism are unable to produce the dark pigment, melanin, in their
skin. This condition is caused when an individual is homozygous recessive for
this characteristic. The family tree below shows the occurrence of albinism over
three generations.

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 Genetics: Inheritance and Terminology

1.1. Indicate whether each of the individuals below could be homozygous dominant,
homozygous recessive or heterozygous:
(a) 1
(b) 2 (3)

1.2. Explain your answer to QUESTION 1.1 (a). (2)

(Taken from the NSC examination November 2008, Question 3.2.)

2. Fur colour in mice is controlled by a gene with two alleles. A homozygous mouse
with black fur was crossed with a homozygous mouse with brown fur. All the
offspring had black fur.

Using the symbols B and b to represent the two alleles for fur colour, show
diagrammatically a genetic cross between a mouse that is heterozygous for fur
colour with a mouse with brown fur. Show the possible genotypes and
phenotypes of the offspring. (6)
(Taken from the NSC examination November 2009, Question 3.4.)

X-ercise
1. The term for the physical appearance of an organism due to the genetic
composition:
A heterozygous
B genotype
C homozygous
D phenotype

2. When the allele genes on homologous chromosomes differ, the organism is...
A homozygous
B dominant
C heterozygous
D recessive

3. Choose the correct cross if the result is 50% homozygous dominant and 50%
heterozygous in the F1 generation:
A Bb xbb
B BB x Bb
C BB x bb
D Bb x Bb

4. The father (blood type B – homozygous dominant) and the mother (blood type O –
homozygous reccessive) have three natural children and one adopted child.
Which child is adopted?
A Richard - blood type B
B Neil – blood type AB
C Bianca – blood type O
D Lauren – blood type B

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 Genetics: Inheritance and Terminology

5. A heterozygous red flower plant was crossed with a homozygous white flower
plant and yielded 300 new plants. What number of the new plants will carry white
flowers?
A 150
B 225
C 300
D 196

6. Bianca and Matt have 3 sons. What are their chances of having a daughter in the
fourth pregnancy?
A 25%
B 50%
C 75%
D 100%

7. The babies of a purebred white rabbit were crossed with a purebred black rabbit.
Black hair dominates over white hair. The offspring of the F2 will be:
A all black
B all white
C 75% black and 25% white
D 75% white and 25% black

Answers to X-ample Questions

1 D
2 C
3 B
4 B
5 A
6 B
7 C

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