Monohybrid inheritance, Punnet Squares and Pedigree Charts

I
Jim Ruby Hamish Bob Sue
Sally Scarlett James

II III
= Brown hair

= Red hair

Monohybrid inheritance
Involves the inheritance of a single characteristic (and trait) that is controlled by one gene with two alleles. An individual inherits two of these alleles from its parents at fertilisation.

Punnett Squares
A Punnett square shows all possible gamete combinations in a cross of parents, giving the expected genotype and phenotype ratios of offspring. How to make a Punnet square
1. Identify the genotypes of both parents 2. Identify the possible alleles in the parents gametes 3. Combine different pairs of gametes to give all possible genotypes of the offspring 4. Use offspring genotypes to determine phenotype ratio.

Test Cross
A test cross is used to determine whether an individual with an unknown genotype is homozygous dominant or heterozygous for a particular trait. Cross unknown genotype with homozygous recessive
IF there is a recessive offspring, unknown was heterozygous IF only dominant offspring produced, unknown was homozygous dominant.

QUESTION TWO: PATTERNS OF INHERITANCE

A blood disorder caused by red blood cells with an unusual curved (sickle) shape is inherited through a single gene with two possible alleles, normal and sickle. Use H to represent the dominant normal allele, and h to represent the recessive sickle allele. (a) Explain how two parents with normal blood cells can have a child with sickle-shaped blood cells. In your answer, you should: state the genotype of a child with the sickle-shaped blood cells state the genotypes of both normal parents draw a Punnett square to show how two normal parents can produce a child with sickle-shaped blood cells. (b) The parents in part (a) have four children all with sickle-shaped blood cells. They are expecting a fifth child. (i) Explain how normal parents could have produced FOUR children with sickle-shaped blood cells. You should refer to your Punnett square in (a). (ii) Explain what the chances are of the fifth child having sickle-shaped blood cells.

Pedigree Chart
A pedigree chart shows the inheritance of a single genetic trait over several generations. Males are shown as squares Females are shown as circles Mating couples are connected by horizontal lines and offspring are placed on branches below.

The shapes are colour coded to indicate specific trait exhibited by an individual.

Pedigree Chart
A pedigree chart can be used to determine:
genotype and phenotype of family members whether an allele is dominant or recessive. the probability of a child inheriting an allele or trait

Inheritance patterns:
the most common trait is not necessarily the dominant one. two recessives crossed to produce only recessive offspring two dominants crossed can produce both dominant and recessive offspring if both parents are heterozygous

Starter: Pedigree Chart

I
Jim Ruby Hamish Bob Sue Sally Scarlett James

II
III
= Brown hair = Red hair

Is Red hair dominant or recessive? Explain. Using H and h as the allele symbols, what are the genotypes of the grandparents? What must Sues genotype be? Justify using a punnet square. What is Jims genotype likely to be? Justify using a punnet square.

Starter: Pedigree Chart

I
Jim Ruby Hamish Bob Sue Sally Scarlett James

II
III
= Brown hair = Red hair

Is Red hair dominant or recessive? Explain. Red Hair is recessive because the trait doesnt show up in either Bob or Sue but does in one of their children. They must be carriers of the allele. If Brown hair was recessive, then Bob and Sue would be homozygous recessive and these genotypes could NOT result in a dominant offspring.

Starter: Pedigree Chart

I
Jim Ruby Hamish Bob Sue Sally Scarlett James

II
III
= Brown hair = Red hair

Using H and h as the allele symbols, what are the genotypes of the grandparents? hh granddad (he is red headed), Hh grandma Punnett square would predict that with these phenotypes 50% of the children would have brown hair and 50% red hair, which is what we observe.

Starter: Pedigree Chart

I
Jim Ruby Hamish Bob Sue Sally Scarlett James

II
III
= Brown hair = Red hair

What must Sues genotype be? Justify using a punnet square.

Hh

Starter: Pedigree Chart

I
Jim Ruby Hamish Bob Sue Sally Scarlett James

II
III
= Brown hair = Red hair

What is Jims genotype likely to be? Justify using a punnet square. Most likely to be HH but could still be Hh.