Meiosis and Mendellian Genetics Kayla Morrison November 14th, 2012 Abstract

Introduction Background Information

A nucleotide consists of a sugar, phosphate, and a base (adenine, cytosine, thymine, or guanine). The nucleotides form a double helix, which forms DNA. DNA is then compacted, wrapped around histones, then condensed into what we visualize as chromosomes. The 46 chromosomes that most humans have compose their genome. On a chromosome, there is a loci where a specific gene is, telomeres, which are protective caps to the chromosomes, and a centromere, which is a midpoint where the centrioles connect. A changed variant of a gene is an allele. DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell. All cells go through a cell cycle which consists of the cell growing, replicating, growing again, and dividing. They divide either by mitosis or meiosis. Meiosis involved the sexual reproductive cells, such as sperm and eggs. In S phase, or the replicating phase, 1 cell which consists of 46 chromosomes, splits to 4 cells which consist of 23 chromosomes. The four latter cells are called gametes. In meiosis, it begins with prophase I. The nuclear envelope is degraded, and the formation of the centriole begins. Sister chromatids begin to touch and exchange, or cross-over, DNA. The cell then goes on to metaphase, when the centrioles end out fishing lines called spindle fibers to line up the sister chromatids side by side down the middle of the cell. Anaphase is when the sister chromatids go to either side of the cell. The nucleus then reforms on each side, and down the center of the cell it tightens to separate the cell into two cells. Through meiosis II, both cells then go through each step of meiosis I to end up with 4 gametes which consist of 23 chromosomes. These are either the eggs or the sperm of women or men respectively. Mendel, an Austrian monk of the 1899s bred pea plants. He discovered that there are two types of alleles, either dominant or recessive. When a dominant trait is paired with a recessive, the dominant trait is expressed phenotypically, or physically, but the recessive trait is carried and shown in the genotype, or genetic makeup. He discovered the law of segregation which says that allele pairs separate into different gametes. His law of independent assortment, which coincides with the previously mentioned law, says that alleles stay separate and don't affect other alleles.

Experimental Summary
A survey of monihybrid and dihybrid corncobs is taken to see if the ratio of traits coincides and supports Mendel's genetic theories.

Hypothesis
After counting and tallying the different traits of the monohybrid and dihybrid corncobs, the ratio will closely match Mendel's genetic theories.

Materials
Monohybrid Corncob Dihybrid Corncob Dry-erase Marker

Methods Monohybrid Corncob Analysis 1. Obtain a monohybrid corncob. 2. Count the different phenotyoes of kernels. 3. Calculate the ratio of dominant phenotype to recessive. Dihybrid Corncob Analysis 1. Obtain a dihybrid corncob. 2. Count the different phenotyoes of kernels. 3. Calculate the ratio of dominant phenotype to recessive.

Results Monohybrid Corncob

Dihybrid Corncob

Discussion After conducting the survey of the monohybrid corncob, the result of a 3.7:1 round(dominant) to wrinkled(recessive) kernels ratio closely matched Mendel's 3:1 dominant to recessive ratio. After conducting the survey of the dihybrid corncob, the result of the 5.3:2.7:1.5:1 round/black(dominant/dominant) to round/yellow(dominant/recessive) to wrinkled/black(recessive/dominant) to wrinkled/yellow (recessive/recessive) also closely matches Mendel's 9:3:3:1 ratio. A stray from the actual ratio could be due to the tape covering some rows of the corncob which led to a smaller count of the actual kernels on the cob.