Prepared by:

MADELYN A. GIGANTONE

MODIFICATIONS TO
Lesson 2
MENDEL’S CLASSIC RATIOS
 ❑To demonstrate inheritance
patterns of incomplete dominance,
OBJECTIVES: codominance, the presence of
multiple alleles, and lethal alleles
What is your blood type? What are the blood types
of your parents and your other relatives?
Complex Patterns
of Inheritance

Complex inheritance of traits

does not follow inheritance
patterns described by Mendel
Incomplete Dominance
• Recall: When organism is heterozygous for a trait, its
phenotype will be that of the dominant trait
t-tall Tt
T-short Phenotype - tall
• However: When red flowered snapdragons (RR) are crossed
with white-flowered snapdragons (WW), the heterozygous
offspring have pink flowers (RW)
Incomplete • In which the heterozygous phenotype is an intermediate
Dominance phenotype between the two homozygous phenotype
What would happen if
you crossed a pink
flower with a white
flower
Genotype:
CRCW : CWCW

Ratio - 1 : 1

Phenotype:
Pink : White

Ratio - 1 : 1
Codominance
• Recall: When organism is heterozygous for a trait, its
phenotype will be that of the dominant trait
T-tall Tt
T-short Phenotype - tall

• In a complex inheritance pattern of codominance, both alleles

are simultaneously expressed in the heterozygous condition.
 • Provides a case study
of codominant
inheritance
• It is a disease which
affects red blood cells
and their ability to
transport oxygen
• Changes in hemoglobin
causes the blood cells
to change to a sickle or
C-shaped.
• Sickled cells do not
effectively transport
Sickle-cell Disease oxygen because they
block circulation
Heterozygous for the trait --- have both normal
and sickle-shaped cells
 Sickle-cell disease and Malaria

Scientist have discovered that those who are

heterozygous for the sickle-cell trait also have a higher
resistance to malaria
 Multiple Alleles

• Not all traits are • Example: Human blood

determined by two group
alleles. Some form of
inheritance are
determined by more
than two alleles.
ABO Blood Group
❑Has three forms of alleles, sometimes called AB markers:
1. IA is blood type A
2. IB is blood type B
3. i is blood type O --- is the absence of AB markers
❑Note: allele i is recessive to IA and IB
❑However, IA and IB are codominant
❑Blood Type AB results from both IA and IB alleles
The blood types are determined The possible genotypes for
by the reaction of a blood sample an individual are (the order
to antibodies added to them.
is not really relevant):
A is dominant to O AA: Phenotype - A
B is dominant to O BB: Phenotype - B
OO: Phenotype - O
A&B are co-dominant
AO: Phenotype - A
BO: Phenotype - B
AB: Phenotype - AB
❑Rh blood group includes Rh factors --- inherited from each
parent.
❑Rh+ --- Dominant
❑Rh –
 Multiple Alleles can demonstrate
Coat color of rabbits a hierarchy of dominance
❑Rabbits has four alleles code for coat color: C, cch, ch, and c
❑Allele C is dominant to the other alleles and result in a full
color coat
❑Allele c is recessive and results in an albino phenotype when
the genotype is homozygous recessive (cc)
❑Allele cch is dominant to ch
❑Allele ch is dominant to c
❑The hierarchy of dominance can be written as
C ˃ cch ˃ ch ˃ c
❑Note: The presence of multiple alleles increases the
possible number of genotypes and phenotypes

❑Two alleles --- produce only 3 possible genotype

Example: T and t --- TT, Tt, and tt

❑However, Four alleles for rabit coat color produce ten

possible genotypes and four phenotypes
 Lethal alleles are alleles that cause
the death of the organism that
carries them.
Mutation creates lethal allele.
Lethality

It can either be DOMINANT or

recessive.
 Lethality

• Types of Lethal Genes:

1. Recessive lethal genes- can code for either dominant
or recessive traits, but do not actually cause death
unless an organism carries two copies of the lethal
allele.
• Ex. Cystic fibrosis and sickle-cell anemia
Cystic Fibrosis:
❑ Occurrence: 1 in 3500 Caucasian
❑Cause: The gene that codes for a
membrane protein is defective
❑Chloride ions are not absorbed
into the cells of a person.
❑Effect: Secretion of excessive thick
mucus and digestive & respiratory
failure
❑Treatment: Physical therapy,
medication, special diets, and use
of replacement digestive enzymes
 Lethality

• Types of Lethal Genes:

2. Dominant Lethal Genes – expressed in both
homozygotes and heterozygotes.
• Ex. Huntington’s Disease
 Huntington’s Disease
❑Occurrence: 1 in 10,000
❑Cause: A gene affecting
the neurological functions
❑Effect: Gradual loss of
brain function,
uncontrollable movements,
emotional disturbances
❑Treatment: No cure
 Achondroplasia
❑Occurrence: 1 in 25,000
❑Cause: A gene that affects bone
growth is abnormal
❑Effect: Small body size, short limbs,
and large head
❑ Most common form of dwarfism
❑Treatment: No cure
 Lethality

• Types of Lethal Genes:

3. Conditional Lethal Genes – an organism that lives normally
under one set of conditions, but when certain changes are
introduced in its environment, lethality results.
Ex. Favism – sex-linked, inherited condition that results from
deficiency in an enzyme called glucose-6-phosphate-
dehydrogenase.
 Galactosemia
❑Occurrence: 1 in 50,000 to
70,000
❑Cause: absence of the gene that
codes for the enzyme that
breakdown galactose.
❑Effect: Mental disabilities;
enlarged liver; kidney failure
❑Treatment: No cure; restriction
of lactose/galactose in the diet
 Lethality

• Types of Lethal Genes:

4. Sex-Linked Lethal Genes – semilethal or sublethal
genes
• The lethal gene is carried on the sex chromosomes,
usually X.
• Ex. Hemophilia
PATERNITY/MATERNITY
TESTING