BIO511 2017

BIO511

GENETICS
PRACTICAL 2: Monohybrid Cross

ED 247/6A

GROUP MEMBERS : Siti Farah Wahida (2014773321)

Muhammad Izzul Amin Bin Ahmad Bahrin (2014507917)
Nur Imani Binti Yusoff (2014937517)
Nurul Iman Amani Bt Che Awang (2014179961)

PREPARED FOR : Puan Ernie Eileen Rizlan Ross

 BIO511 2017

1) RESULTS:

1. Phenotypes: Number of Kernels:

Coloured (R) 589
Colourless (r) 198

2) QUESTIONS:

2. What are the expected phenotypic and genotypic ratios for the F2 seed? Please
show/explain how you derived your answer.

The phenotypic ratio of different types of individuals occurring in the F2 generation

of the monohybrid cross is called the monohybrid ratio. In the Mendelian
monohybrid experiments, this ratio was always 3:1. For this experiment the ratios are
like below:

P Coloured x Colourless
(Genotypes) RR rr

Types of gametes R r

Hybrid
F1 Monohybrid Rr
Yellow

Types of gametes by F1 R r
Self/inbreeding
 BIO511 2017

R r Female gametes
F2
RR Rr
R Coloured Coloured
Male gametes
r Rr rr
Coloured Colourless

Punnetts square

Phenotypic ratio Genotypic ratio (in F2 )

3 Yellow: 1 Colourless Yellow: Hybrid Yellow: Colourless
1 RR: 2 Rr: 1 rr

3. Using the expected phenotypic ration in Question 1, determine the expected

number of individuals of each phenotype.

Phenotypes Yellow Colourless Total

Observed number of
589 198 787
individuals
Expected phenotypic
3 1 4
ratio
Expected number of
787 x (3/4) = 590.25 787 x (1/4) = 196.75
individuals
 BIO511 2017

4. What factors could cause variation from the Expected Numbers?

- Mendel's law of independent assortment. It states that the alleles of two (or
more) different genes get sorted into gametes independently of one another. In
other words, the allele a gamete receives for one gene does not influence the allele
received for another gene. As we can see from the Punnett square in question 2,
the two alleles for a heritable character separate during gamete formation and end
up in different gametes and produces gametes with the expected number of
individuals.

- Mendel's First law of Principle of Segregation. It states that the characteristics

of an organism are determined by internal factors (allele) which occurs in pairs.
Only one of a pair of such factors (allele) can be represented in a single gamete.

- The gene for seed colour in corn kernel exists in two forms. There is one form or
allele for coloured kernel (R) and another for colourless kernel (r). In this
practical, the allele for coloured kernel is dominant and the allele for colourless
kernel is recessive. When the alleles of a pair are different (heterozygous), the
dominant allele trait is expressed and the recessive allele trait is masked. Seeds
with the genotype of (RR) or (Rr) are coloured, while seeds that are (rr) are
colourless.
 BIO511 2017
3) Discussion
This experiment investigates on the concept of monohybrid cross that is proposed by
Mendels model. The result of the monohybrid cross that occurred in F2 generation of the
corn can be discussed based on Mendels concepts.

Firstly, the phenotypic trait such as the colour of the corn kernel is determined by the
alternative version of genes that is called allele. There are two types of alleles, which are
dominant and recessive.

The dominant allele is the allele which influences the appearance of the phenotype even in
the presence of an alternative allele. It is represented using capital letter. While the recessive
allele influences the appearance of the phenotype only in the presence of another identical
allele. It represented using lower case letter. In this practical, coloured corn kernel has
dominant allele (RR)/ (Rr) while the colourless corn kernel has recessive allele (rr).

We had a simple cross: a monohybrid cross meaning that we were only checking for one
physical characteristic. We checked for the characteristic of kernel colour whether the
kernels be coloured aluerone or colourless aluerone. It had been found that coloured aluerone
kernels accounted for 589 kernels, or almost 3/4 of the total number of kernels, whereas

colourless aluerone kernels accounted for a mere 198 kernels, or of the kernels.

According to the result, with the ratio approximately 3:1, it could be assume that this proven
the Mendelian genetic phenotype ratios for monohybrid cross test that was proposed by
Gregor Mendel.

Gregor Mendel formulated two laws which are Law of Independent Assortment and Law of
Segregation. Independent assortment happens when the two copies of a gene carried by an
organism (such as a R and a r allele) are located at the same spot on the two chromosomes of
a homologous pair. Homologous chromosomes are similar but non-identical, and an organism
gets one member of the pair from each of its two parents. The physical basis for the law of
independent assortment lies in meiosis I of gamete formation, when homologous pairs line up
in random orientations at the middle of the cell as they prepare to separate.

Secondly, the law of segregation of Mendel can be seen when the two alleles for a heritable
character separate during gamete formation and end up in different gametes. Thus, the
possible combinations of sperm and egg can be shown using a Punnett Square.
 BIO511 2017
All the possible combinations can be referred in the result. From the Punnett Square, we can
have the phenotypic and genotypic ratio of F2 generations.
 BIO511 2017
4) Conclusion

A simple breeding experiment involving just a single characteristic, like Mendels

experiment, is called a monohybrid cross. At fertilization any male gamete can fertilize any
female gamete at random. The possible results of fertilization can be calculated out using a
Punnett Square as shown in question 2. Each of the possible outcomes has an equal chance of
happening, so this explains the 3:1 ratio (phenotypes) observed by the law of independent
assortment. Furthermore, the Mendels law of segregation is described in four main concept
through the practical; which are genes exist in more than one allele, organisms inherit two
alleles (one from each parent) during sexual reproduction, these alleles separate during
meiosis leaving each gamete with one allele for a single trait and the heterozygous alleles
exhibit complete dominance as one allele is dominant and the other recessive.
 BIO511 2017
References

Bailey, R. (2017, July 11 ). Mendel's Law of Independent Assortment. ThoughtCo.com.

Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/mendels-law-of-independent-assortment-
373458 on 11October 2017.

Josh. (21 Feb 2015). Corn Genetics Lab Report. Wordpress.com. Retrieved from
https://bioper7.wordpress.com/2015/02/21/corn-genetics/ on 11October 2017.

Khan Academy. The Law of Independent assortment. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/classical-genetics/mendelian--
genetics/a/the-law-of-independent-assortment on 11October 2017.