Module 3.

Mendelian Genetics
1.1 Monohybrid Inheritance
1.2 Modifications of the 3:1 phenotypic ratio
1.3 Dihybrid Inheritance
1.4 Modifications of the 9:3:3:1 phenotypic ratio
2. The Chi-square Test
2.1. Its applications in Genetics
2.2. Computational procedures and interpretation of results

Overview
The topic deals with the study of trait inheritance patterns in living organisms which are useful
in understanding observable phenotypes especially in plants. Also included are some exceptions
to standard phenotypic and genotypic proportions in offsprings.
Learning Outcome
The learner should be able to learn the patterns of inheritance of different traits in plants and
animals and understand the underlying mechanisms behind them

LEARNING CONTENT

Monohybrid inheritance

A monohybrid cross involves a cross between two contrasting traits, like wrinkled x round, or
tall x short in which the individual traits are each controlled by a single dominant gene

Advancing the offspring to the F2 generation results into the ff:

R r

R RR Rr

r Rr rr

Genotypic Ratio : 1:2:1 (1/4 RR, 2/4 Rr, 1/4 rr)

Phenotypic Ratio : 3:1 ( ¾ round, ¼ wrinkled)

Gregor Mendel’s First Law

The Law of segregation
States that unit hereditary characters occur in pairs, and that in the formation of gametes these
segregate so that only one member of the pair goes into a particular gamete. It is a matter of
chance whether a particular gamete gets a dominant or recessive allele.

Gregor Mendel’s Second Law

The Law of Independent Assortment
States that genes for different characters are inherited independently of one another or that
the members of one pair of alleles segregate independently of the other pairs

Modifications of the 3:1 phenotypic ratio

F2 segregation ratio: 1 red : 2 pink 1 white

• Neither parental phenotype was expressed
• This was observed in four-o’clock plant (Mirabilis jalapa)

• Both parental phenotypes were expressed

• The heterozygote exhibits a mixture of the phenotypic characters of both homozygotes
C. Lethal Genes
• A lethal gene is one that causes death of an organism
Example in Plants :
 Yellow-leaf dominant genotype aurea in snapdragon, when crossed with another aurea
genotype always produce normal green plants and aurea heterozygotes:
Aurea homozygote lacked the ability to make chlorophyll and dies either before
germination or as seedlings

In Human Beings:
a. Tay-sachs Disease
Occurs when nerve cells fail to synthesize an enzyme involved in the breakdown of
lipids, hence, it accumulates in the brain of a child homozygous for the tay-sachs allele,
causing mental retardation, blindness, and failure motor control.There’s no cure, and
death occurs in early childhood

b. Sickle-cell Anemia
Prevalent in blacks and africans. As valine is substituted for glutamic acid at a location
outside of the hemoglobin molecule, hemoglobin clumps together forcing red blood
cells into the sickle-like shape. During exercise or stress, the sickled cells break and clog
the capillaries causing stroke or heart attack

Dihybrid Inheritance
In a Dihybrid Cross between a plant with wrinkled green seeds and a plant with round yellow
seeds where the round yellow traits are dominant, the chances for a plant to be round or
wrinkled do not interfere with, or are independent of, its chances to become yellow or green.

Dihybrid Cross
RRYY x rryy
(round yellow) (wrinkled green)

F1 - RrYy (Round Yellow)

Round yellow = 9/16 Wrinkled yellow = 3/16

Round green = 3/16 Wrinkled green = 1/16
Modifications of the 9:3:3:1 phenotypic ratio

Gene Interaction
Epistasis - one gene pair (epistatic gene) hides the effect of the other (hypostatic gene) causing
the novel phenotype not to appear.
 1. Recessive epistasis – there is complete dominance at both gene pairs, but one gene,
when homozygous recessive, hides or masks the effect of the other.
In mice: black x albino = agouti. F2 : 9 agouti: 3 black: 4 albino.

2. Duplicate Dominant Epistasis – complete dominance at both gene pairs, but one gene,
when dominant, masks the effect of the other
Cross illustration in plants:
A - white B – color inhibitor
a – yellow b – color

AAbb x aaBB
(white) (white)

AaBb (white)
3. Dominant and Recessive Epistasis – a mixed epistatic effect that arises when one gene
pair contains a dominant allele or when the other gene pair is homozygous recessive
Cross illustration in fowl:
A - white B – color inhibitor F2
a – yellow b – color 9 A_B_ white
AAbb x aaBB 3 A_bb white
(white) (yellow) 3 aaB_ yellow
1 aabb white
AaBb (white)  
13 white : 3 yellow
3. Duplicate Interaction – when a dominant allele is present at both gene pairs, A_B_, the coat
color is red, but when both are homozygous recessive, the coat is white.. Sandy coat results
when either one is homozygous recessive and the other is dominant (A_bb or aaB_)
Cross illustration in pig:
A_B_ red F2
A_bb, aaB_ sandy 9 A_B_ red
aabb white 3 A_bb sandy
3 aaB_ sandy
1 aabb white
AABB x aabb  
(red) (white)
9 red : 6 sandy : 1 white
AaBb (red)
Learning Activities
Study Questions
Answer the following problems. Illustrate or Show your solutions.NOTE : Round (R) is dominant to
wrinkled (r) and Yellow (Y) is dominant to green (y).

1. Classify the following as heterozygous or homozygous : 4 pts

a. RR _________________ c. yy _____________________
 b. Rr _________________ d. YyRR ___________________

2. What is the phenotype of the following? 4 pts

a. Yy ________________ c. Rr ______________________

b. yy ________________ d. YyRr ____________________

3. What is the probability of Rr x Rr producing wrinkled seeds? 2 pts

4. What is the probability of Yy x yy producing green seeds? 2 pts

5. What is the probability of RrYy x RRYy producing RrYy? 6 pts

Assessment Task
• Answer the study questions
• Submit answers to online quiz

Flexible Teaching and Learning Modalities

• Google classroom, edmodo
• Online quiz
• Facebook messenger

References
• (www.biologydictionary.net)
• C.R.Chanco. 1996. Handbook in Genetics