Review Questions - Chapter 11 “Observable Patterns of Inheritance”

1. What was the prevailing method of explaining the inheritance of traits before
Mendel’s work with pea plants? Blending of traits
2. Garden pea plants are naturally _self_________-fertilizing, but Mendel took
steps to ___cross_______-fertilize them for his experiments.
3. Genes are units of information about specific traits; they are passed from parents
to offspring. What is the general term applied to the location of a gene on a
chromosome? loci
4. Define allele;(different molecular forms of a gene) how many types of
alleles are present in the genotypes Tt? tt? TT? (2)
5. Explain the meaning of a true-breeding lineage.(they always produce
offspring just like themselves; homozygous) When two alleles of a pair
are identical, it is a __homozygous________ condition; if the two alleles are
different, this is a __heterozygous________ condition.
6. Distinguish a dominant allele from a recessive allele. Dominant: only
requires one gene to be expressed; recessive requires both alleles
before expression)
7. ___Genotype_______ refers to the genes present in an individual;
__phenotype________ refers to an individual's observable traits.
8. Offspring of __monohybrid________ crosses are heterozygous for the one trait
being studied. [p.156]
9. Explain why probability is useful to genetics. It allows one to predict the %
of offspring that would have a particular combination of genes;
hence phenotypes can be predicted.
10. Be able to use the Punnett-square method of solving genetics problems.
11. Define the testcross and cite an example. A phenotypic dominant individual is
crossed with a homozygous mate. Tt x tt and TT x tt are the possible
genotypes of the mating. In the former case, the phenotypic ratio of
the offspring is 1:1. In the latter 100% are Tt and express the
dominant condition.
12. Mendel's theory of __segregation________ states that during meiosis, the two
genes of each pair separate from each other and end up in different gametes.
13. Describe the testcross. See above
14. Be able to solve dihybrid genetic crosses. Refer to handouts, text and class
notes.
15. Mendel's theory of __independent________ __assortment________
states that gene pairs on homologous chromosomes tend to be sorted into one
gamete or another independently of how gene pairs on other chromosomes are
sorted out. When does this not hold true?
16. Distinguish between complete dominance, incomplete dominance, and
codominance. Refer to text and class notes. Also PPP on the V drive.
17. Define multiple allele system and cite an example.

Whenever more than two forms of alleles exist at a given locus, it

is called a multiple allele system. A,B, O blood group is an example.
Four blood types: A, B, AB, and O, are the result of A, B, and i
genes at work.
18. Explain why sickle-cell anemia is a good example of pleiotropy.
Sometimes the expression of alleles at one location can
have effects on two or more traits; this is termed
pleiotropy.
Sickle Cell Anemia is a good example of pleiotropy
because many traits are observed in an afflicted person
such as: anemia, joint pain, organ failure; fatigue
19. Gene interaction involving two alleles of a gene that mask expression of another
gene's alleles is called ____epistasis______.

20. List possible explanations for less predictable trait variations that are observed.

Camptodactyly (immobile, bent fingers) can express itself

on one hand only, both hands, or neither due the
possibility that a gene product is missing in one of the
several steps along the metabolic pathway.
Continuous Variation in Populations
A given phenotype can vary, by different degrees, from
one individual to the next in a population.
This is the result of interactions with other genes,
and environmental influences.

21. List two human traits that are explained by continuous variation.

In humans, eye color and height are examples.

22. Himalayan rabbits and garden hydrangeas are good examples of environmental
effects on ___gene_______ expression.