Using  Chi-­‐square  analysis  to  analyze  genetic  data           AP  Biology  2015  

 
Reminders  about  chi-­‐square  analysis:  
• Use  chi-­‐square  analysis  to  compare  expected  values  to  observed  values  
• The  expected  values  are  predicted  by  the  null  hypothesis  
• DO  NOT  use  ratios/percentages  to  plug  into  your  chi-­‐square  equation;  DO  plug  in  raw  data  (counts)  
• Raw  data  may  be  given,  or  you  may  need  to  calculate  it  based  on  expected  ratios  
• Calculate  the  chi-­‐square  value  and  degrees  of  freedom  and  use  those  values  to  find  p  on  the  table  
• Determine  the  significance  of  the  difference  between  the  observed  and  expected  values:  
o The  observed  values  are  significantly  different  from  the  expected  values  OR  
o The  observed  values  are  not  significantly  different  from  the  expected  values  
o Do  NOT  say  “the  data  are  significant”  or  “the  data  are  not  significant”—this  is  meaningless!  
• Make  a  conclusion  about  whether  to…  
o  reject  the  null  hypothesis  OR    
o fail  to  reject  the  null  hypothesis    
• Justify  your  conclusion  by  stating:  
o degrees  of  freedom  
o chi-­‐square  
o p-­‐value  as  less  than  or  greater  than  the  critical  value  of  0.05  
• IMPORTANT:    Follow  through  with  a  statement  about  what  your  conclusion  means  with  respect  to  
inheritance  of  the  gene  or  genes  being  studied.  
 
• If  you  can  predict  the  ratios,  you  can  do  the  chi-­‐square  test  based  on  expected  values!  
o Do  two  genes  assort  independently?  
o Is  a  phenotype  due  to  one  gene,  two  alleles?  
o Is  the  inheritance  pattern  due  to  complete  dominance?    Co-­‐dominance?    Incomplete  
dominance?      
o Is  a  trait  sex-­‐linked?  
 
 
 
Formulas  and  Tables:  
 

 
 
 
degrees  of  freedom  =  (#  of  categories)  -­‐  1  
 
   
  
 
Chi-­‐square  analysis  and  genetics  problems:    What  can  I  conclude?  
 
DIRECTIONS:    Answer  these  three  questions  in  the  space  provided.    Be  sure  that  you  have  addressed  the  following  in  the  answers  
to  Genetic  Chi-­‐square  Analysis  Problem  Set!  
 
1. Monohybrid  cross  
(a) If  your  statistical  analysis  of  the  data  for  the  F2  generation  of  a  monohybrid  cross  is  consistent  
with  a  3:1  phenotypic  ratio  for  a  trait,  what  can  you  conclude  about  the  gene(s)  for  that  trait?      
 
 
 
 
(b)  What  conclusion  should  you  make  if  the  3:1  ratio  is  NOT  supported?  
 
 
 
 
2. Dihybrid  cross  
(a) If  your  statistical  analysis  of  the  data  for  the  F2  generation  of  a  dihybrid  cross  is  consistent  
with  a  9:3:3:1  phenotypic  ratio  for  the  two  traits  being  studied,  what  can  you  conclude  about  
the  gene(s)  for  that  (those)  traits?    
 
 
 
 
(b)    What  conclusion  should  you  make  if  a  9:3:3:1  ratio  is  NOT  supported?  
 
 
 
 
3. Test  cross  to  dihybrid  F2s  
(a) If  your  statistical  analysis  of  the  data  for  a  test  cross  is  consistent  with  a  1  parental  :1  non-­‐
parental  :1  non-­‐parental  :1  parental    phenotypic  ratio  for  the  two  traits  being  followed,  what  
can  you  conclude  about  the  gene(s)  for  those  traits?      
 
 
 
 
(b) What  conclusion  should  you  make  if  the  1:1:1:1  ratio  is  NOT  supported?      
What  should  you  then  do  to  follow  up  on  your  analysis  of  those  two  genes?  (Hint:  How  linked  
are  they?)        *(NOTE  on    3/19/15-­‐  We  have  not  yet  done  linkage  and  mapping  in  class.    You  will  
learn  how  determine  the  map  distance  between  two  genes  on  the  same  chromosome  based  on  test  
cross  data  in  our  net  lesson.)  
 
 
   
Genetics  Chi-­‐square  Problem  Set:         Name_______________________________________  
 
DIRECTIONS:    Answer  the  following  questions  in  the  space  provided.    Use  additional  sheets  of  paper  as  needed.    For  each  question,  
state  the  null  hypothesis.    Show  all  work,  organized  in  a  table.    Make  the  statement  about  whether  or  not  the  difference  between  
the  observed  and  expected  values  is  significant  or  not  significant.    State  your  final  analysis  (refute  or  fail  to  refute  the  null  
hypothesis)  and  justify  your  answer.  Follow  through  with  a  statement  about  what  your  conclusion  means  with  respect  to  
inheritance  of  the  gene  or  genes  being  tested.  
 
1. In pea plants yellow seed color is dominant to green and round seed shape is dominant to wrinkled. In a
dihybrid cross of pea plants, a researcher observed 315 round, yellow; 108 round, green; 101 wrinkled,
yellow; and 32 wrinkled, green F2 plants. Analyze these data using chi-square analysis to evaluate:

a. Whether or not the gene for seed color exhibits a 3:1 inheritance pattern.
b. Whether or not the gene for seed shape exhibits a 3:1 inheritance pattern.
c. Whether or not the genes for seed color and seed shape assort independently.
2. In corn the glossy trait (a) gives glossy leaves and is recessive to normal leaves (A). The ramosa trait (b)
determines increased branching of ears and is recessive to normal branching (B). A true breeding glossy
leaved, ramosa plant (aabb) was crossed to a true-breeding normal leaved normal branching plant
(AABB) to yield F1 plants. An F1 offspring was then crossed to an aabb plant and the resulting progeny
classified for their phenotypes as shown below. Use chi-square analysis to analyze whether or not the
genes for glossy leaves and branching assort independently.

395- normal leaved and normal branches

382- glossy leaved and ramosa branching
223- normal leaved and ramosa branching
247- glossy leaved with normal branching
 3. In fruit flies, the phenotype for eye color is determined by a certain locus. E indicates the dominant
allele and e indicates the recessive allele. The cross between a male wild-type fruit fly and a female
white-eyed fruit fly produced the following offspring:

Wild-type male Wild-type White eyed White eyed

female male female
F1 0 45 55 0

The wild-type and white-eyed individuals from the F1 generation were then crossed to produce the
following offspring:

Wild-type male Wild-type White eyed White eyed

female male female
F2 23 31 22 24

a. Determine the genotypes of the original parents (P generation) and explain your reasoning.
You may use Punnett squares to enhance your description, but the results from the Punnett
squares must be discussed in your written answer.

b. Use a chi-square test on the F2 generation to analyze your prediction of the parental
genotypes. Show all your work and explain the importance of your final answer.