Exp 2

Flower Colour

Name : __________________________

Results

Date:______________

Introduction

In this experiment we will examine the inheritance of a single gene which

governs flower colour in pea plants. The common allele normally results in
the plant having a red flower. However, Mendel found a variety of pea plant
having a different allele which causes the flower to be white.

Record the results observed in the following tables, by placing a

stroke in the appropriate column, as each offspring is displayed.

Table 1 Parent-Cross Results

Parent Description
First Phenotype Second

Genotype -

Red flowers

White flowers

Inside the pea is a thin seed coat which is grey if the plant producing the pea
has red flowers and white if it has white flowers. Often books mention seed
coat instead of flower colour, because Mendel reported the seed coat colour in
his results even though he knew they directly related to flower colour as well.
The red is dominant over the white flower colour and so a hybrid plant, which
has both a common and the other allele, would have red flowers. The symbol
used for the common allele is P and the other p.
red

Total Red flowers =

White

White flowers =

Plant ratio Red : White _______:_______

Table 2 Hybrid-Cross Results

Hybrid Description
First Phenotype Second

Genotype -

Red flowers

Aim

White flowers

To examine the inheritance of flower colour, in three generations of pea plants.

Procedure
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

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Click on the Reset then Select buttons and select Saved Parents.
Select Exp02.pep.
Drag each of the parents over to the Observation Platform and
record their phenotype and genotype in the first table.
Click the Breed button and record each offsprings phenotype.
During recording, drag 2 offspring into the Hold Tray.
Empty the Parent and Offspring trays after counting 50-100 offspring.
Drag the held plants into the Parent tray and breed them before you
examine and record them in table 2. They are still offspring until
they are bred and so their genotype may not be visible.
Record the phenotypes of 200 offspring, then answer the questions.
Pea Plant Genetics Lab

Newbyte Educational Software

Total Red flowers =

White flowers =

Plant ratio Red : White _______:_______

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Pea Plant Genetics Lab

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Discussion Questions

6) Complete the Punnett Square below for the hybrid-cross.

1) Complete the following table, which deals with the original parentcross, between a pure breeding red flowered and a pure breeding White
flowered plant. Use Table 1.
Parent
First

Phenotype

Genotype

Genotypes of gametes

Second

Second
Parent

First phenotype:__________________________
Parent
GAMETE
genotypes

genotype :____________________

phenotype:
_______________
_______________
genotype:

2) Complete the Punnett Square below for the Parent-cross.

phenotype:__________________________
First
Parent

Second
Parent

GAMETE
genotypes

genotype :____________________

_______________
From the Punnett Square above, what is the expected ratio of
red : white flowers?
_______ : _______
What are the expected ratios of genotypes?
( PP : Pp : pp )_______ : _______ : _______

phenotype:
_______________
_______________
genotype:

7) How well does the ratio of red : white flowers observed in the
experiment compare to the ratio predicted by the Punnett Square?

_______________

___________________________________________________________

3) By referring to the Punnett Square above, what would you expect the
ratio of red : white flowered plants to be?

_______ : _______

8) When Mendel conducted this experiment, he found in the second

generation of offspring 705 had red while 224 had white flowered. Why
would you expect a difference, between the observed and predicted
phenotypic ratios?

4) How well does the ratio of red : white flowered plants observed in the
experiment compare to the ratio predicted by the Punnett Square? Why?
___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

Additional Questions

5) Complete the following table, for the hybrid-cross in which the first
offspring are bred to produce the second generation of offspring.
Parent

Phenotype

Genotype

Genotypes of gametes

First
Second

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Pea Plant Genetics Lab

Newbyte Educational Software

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Pea Plant Genetics Lab

21