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Corn Genetics Chi Square Analysis

  • Page ID
    19919
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    In this exercise, you will examine an ear of corn and determine the type of cross and genes responsible for the coloration and texture of the corn kernels like the one show below. There are four grain phenotypes in the ear. Purple and smooth (A), Purple and Shrunken (B), Yellow and Smooth (C), Yellow and Shrunken (D).

    corn genetics.png


    Dihybrid Cross

    We will now consider a dihybrid cross, which is a combination of the two monohybrids. Your ear of corn may be a result of a cross between plants that were both heterozygous (PpSs x PpSs).

    1. Create a punnett square or use a mathematical system to determine the phenotype ratio. Record what you would expect to get from this cross in the chart below.
    Purple & smooth ___ Purple & shrunken ____ Yellow & smooth ___ Yellow & shrunken ____

    2. Now count the number of each in your five rows on the ear of corn.

    Number Counted
    Purple & smooth
    Purple & shrunken
    Yellow & smooth
    Yellow & shrunken
    TOTAL

    3. Did you obtain a 9:3:3:1 ratio? To determine if the deviations from your observed data are due to chance alone or if the data is significantly different, you need to use a chi square test. The table below will help you make the calculations.

    Expected Number Observed Number [Observed - Expected]2 / Expected
    Purple & smooth Total x 9/16 =
    Purple & shrunken Total x 3/16 =
    Yellow & smooth Total x 3/16 =
    Yellow & shrunken Total x 1/16 =
    CHI SQUARE VALUE:
    (add the numbers from the rows above)

    4. Now determine if your chi square value is a good fit with your data. Your degrees of freedom (df) is the number of possible phenotypes minus 1. In your case, 4 - 1 = 3. Find the number in that row that is closest to your chi square value. Circle that number.

    5. Explain what it means to have a "good fit" or a "poor fit". Does you chi square analysis of real corn data support the hypothesis that the parental generation was PpSs x PpSs?

    Chi Square Problem Set

    chi square problem.png

    1. Problem: A large ear of corn has a total of 433 grains, including 271 Purple & starchy, 73 Purple & sweet, 63 Yellow & starchy, and 26 Yellow & sweet.

      Your Tentative Hypothesis: This ear of corn was produced by a dihybrid cross (PpSs x PpSs) involving two pairs of heterozygous genes resulting in a theoretical (expected) ratio of 9:3:3:1.

      Objective: Test your hypothesis using chi square and probability values.

    2. Problem: In a certain reptile, eyes can be either black or yellow. Two black eyed lizards are crossed, and the result is 72 black eyed lizards, and 28 yellow­eyed lizards.

      Your Tentative Hypothesis: The black eyed parents were Bb x Bb.

      Objective: Test your hypothesis using chi square analysis. In this set, because only two values (traits) are examined, the degrees of freedom (df) is 1. SHOW ALL WORK!

    3. Problem: A sample of mice (all from the same parents) shows 58 Black hair, black eyes | 16 Black hair, red eyes | 19 White hair, black eyes 7 | White hair, red eyes

      Your tentative hypothesis: (what are the parents?)

      Objective: Use a chi square analysis to support your hypothesis

    This page titled Corn Genetics Chi Square Analysis is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Shannan Muskopf (Biology Corner) .

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