Understanding Mendelian Genetics: The Principles of Inheritance Explained
This lecture delves into the foundational concepts of inheritance as established by Gregor Mendel in the mid-1800s. It explores how genetic traits are transmitted through generations, focusing on his experiments with garden peas (Pisum sativum). Key principles include the role of genes as inherited elements, the concept of homologous chromosomes, and the process of gamete formation during meiosis. Mendel's significant findings, such as the dominance of traits and the law of segregation, illustrate the discrete nature of heredity.
Understanding Mendelian Genetics: The Principles of Inheritance Explained
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Presentation Transcript
crosstopix.blogspot.com Inheritance LECTURE #13
Inheritance • Concept of inheritance is ancient and universal. • How traits are transmitted was a mystery… • Gregor Mendel, mid-1800sAustrian naturalist and monk • “Black Box” of genetics
Scientific method • Materials • Garden pea (Pisumsativum) • Tweezers and a paintbrush • Methods • Crossing various “parent” plants • Observing traits of the offspring • Results • The set of principles that govern inheritance
Black box • Inferences made by Mendel… #1. The basic units of inheritance are material elements. • Genes = Elements of DNA located on chromosomes
Black box • Inferences made by Mendel… #2. These elements come in pairs. • Homologous chromosomes = Similar in size and content, but contain different genes.(one from mom, one from dad) • Diploid organisms have 2 copies
Black box • Inferences made by Mendel… #3. Pairs separate during the formation of gametes. • Meiosis I = Separation and independent assortment of homologous chromosomes. • Each sperm or egg only gets one copy of each gene. • Haploid gametes
Black box • Inferences made by Mendel… #4. Elements retain character through generations. • Chromosomes copied during meiosis and getpassed on unchanged into next generation.
Mendel’s peas liseed.org gstuff.co.nz
Garden pea biology • Cross-pollinate OR • Self-pollinate • Each pollen grain unique • Each egg in ovary unique = unique progeny monstergirlee.blogspot.com
Fertilization in plants Anthers contain pollen grains Ovary contains the eggs
Peas in a pod • Each pea contains an embryo • Each embryo is a separate individual • Each from a separate fertilization event • Each can have different traits • The peas in a pod are not identical. blog.locallectual.com
The Experiments • Pea plants normally self-pollinate • Mendel was able to force pea plants to cross-pollinate
CROSS POLLINATING 1. Clip anthers off mother plant. 2. Gather pollen from father plant. 3. Rub father plant pollen on mother plant’s stigma.
7 different characters. 2 traits for each. Traits are either dominant or recessive.
Genotype vs. Phenotype • Genotype = all the genes belonging to a single individual • Phenotype= the • physical appearance of an individual. • Genotype + Environment anthro.palomar.edu coutureinthecity.com
Terminology • P generation = parent generation • F1 generation = first filial; offspring from P • F2 generation = second filial; offspring from F1
The Experiments • “True breeding” plants • Example: All pea plants from yellow seeds also have only yellow-seeded F1 and F2 progeny. • Mendel only used these for P generation
Results of cross • True-breeding P generation (yellow x green) • F1 generation is ALL yellow • No green seeds, no “blending” of inheritance • Yellow is dominant, green is recessive
Results of cross • F1 generation planted and allowed to “self” • F2 generation • 6,022 yellow seeds • 2,001 green seeds • ¾ are yellow, ¼ are green • 3:1 ratio • Yellow:green • Dominant:recessive
What Mendel learned… • No “blending” of characteristics • Discrete elements are being transmitted • Green seeds absent from F1, but reappear in F2 so they must have been present in F1 generation too. • Traits caused by pairs of elements • Paired genes exist on homologous chromosomes • Allele = different form of a gene (yellow allele, green allele)
Dominant vs. Recessive • Capital letters designate dominant alleles • Lower case letters designate recessive Y y
Dominant vs. Recessive • A true-breeding plant would have two dominant alleles for that trait. • Homozygous dominant = two dominant alleles Y Y Genotype YY Phenotype yellow seeds Gametes produced only have Y allele
Dominant vs. Recessive • A true-breeding plant would have two recessive alleles for that trait. • Homozygous recessive= two recessive alleles y y Genotype yy Phenotype green seeds Gametes produced only have y allele
Dominant vs. Recessive • Heterozygous = two different alleles Y y Genotype Yy Phenotype yellow seeds Gametes produced one Y allele and one y allele
Mendel’s Law of Segregation • Individuals possess two alleles for each gene • These alleles separate during gamete production (meiosis) • Since alleles reside on chromosomes, alleles separate when homologous chromosomes separate during meiosisI.
Ratios of different genotypes and phenotypes are best illustrated using a Punnett square
The green phenotype couldn’t be expressed in the F1 generation because the dominant allele (Y) was present.
A pattern to progeny Genotypic ratio 1:2:1 YY : Yy: yy Phenotypic ratio 3:1 dominant : recessive
Activity • Worksheet Part I
Dihybrid crosses • Dihybrid cross = involve crossing 2 characters. • Monohybrid cross • Yellow seeds x green seeds • Smooth seeds x wrinkled seeds • Dihybridcross • Smooth yellow x wrinkled green
Dihybrid cross • P: smooth yellow x wrinkled green • Genotypes: SSYY x ssyy • Gametes: SY and sy • F1generation: All SsYy • All smooth and yellow • All heterozygous for both traits
Dihybrid cross • F1: double heterozygotes self-pollinate • Genotypes: SsYy x SsYy • Gametes: SY , Sy , sY, and sy • F2generation • Four different phenotypes
Dihybrid cross • F2 generation • 315 smooth yellow • 101 wrinkled yellow • 108 smooth green • 32 wrinkled green • 9:3:3:1 phenotypic ratio • 3:1 phenotypic ratio still preserved for each character! • yellow:green • smooth:wrinkled • The transmission of one trait did not affect the other
Mendel’s Law of Independent Assortment • During gamete formation, gene pairs assort independent of one another • The transmission of one character does not influence the transmission of another character • Independent assortment in meiosis
Activity • Worksheet Part II
Multiple alleles, genes • Mendel’s peas • Single gene, 2 alleles for each • 2 potential phenotypes • Most characters • Multiple genes involved • More than 2 alleles for each gene (2-302 alleles)
Human blood type • Types: A, B, AB, and O • Determined by types of glycoproteinson the surface of red blood cells • Single gene on chromosome 9 • Three alleles for glycoprotein • “A” allele A molecule • “B” allele B molecule • “O” allele no molecule
Blood Type • Six allele combinations produce four blood types Blood typeGenotypeMolecules present Type A AA or AO “A” molecule Type B BB or BO “B” molecule Type AB AB “A” and “B” Type O OO neither is present
A and B display dominance over the recessive O allele. But A and B are both expressed when together = codominant.
Polygenic inheritance • Polygenic inheritance = Several genes contribute additive effects to a character. • Not either/or characters (yellow vs. green) • Human height, skin color, etc. • Color of a wheat grain • Length of an ear of corn • Milk production in a cow
Genes and the environment • Environmental factors also influence traits • External factors affect phenotypic expression • Smoking development of lung cancer • Soil pH color of hydrangeas
Writing response • At the beginning of this chapter of the book, a newspaper article states that blonde hair is “so recessive” that it will eventually disappear from the population. • Explain why this is so unlikely. • Explain why the phrase “so recessive”doesn’t make any sense.