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9.5: Gametes and Fertilization

  • Page ID
    133682
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    Now that we’ve learned about genotypes, phenotypes, and various crosses, let’s put this all together. We will be creating our own gametes, then combining them with a classmate’s to see what the potential offspring would look like. Remember that some of these traits will use simple dominance, but some may demonstrate incomplete dominance.

    In a designated place in the lab, there are bags of alleles for various physical traits. You will need to randomly grab TWO alleles for each trait. This determines your genotype, which you will record in the table below. Then, using the information written on the alleles and in the table, you will determine and record your phenotype as well.

    Table 9.5 Your Alleles and Phenotype
    Trait Type Your Allele 1 Your Allele 2 Your Phenotype
    Hair Color Incomplete Dominance      
    Hair Texture Incomplete Dominance      
    Freckles Simple Dominance      
    Eye Color Simple Dominance      
    Eye Shape Simple Dominance      
    Nose Shape Incomplete Dominance      
    Face Shape Incomplete Dominance      
    Skin Color Incomplete Dominance      
    Cleft Chin Simple Dominance      

    Now you need to work with a partner. Record your partner’s alleles and phenotype in the table below.

    Table 9.6 Your Partner’s Alleles and Phenotype
    Trait Type Partner Allele 1 Partner Allele 2 Partner Phenotype
    Hair Color Incomplete Dominance      
    Hair Texture Incomplete Dominance      
    Freckles Simple Dominance      
    Eye Color Simple Dominance      
    Eye Shape Simple Dominance      
    Nose Shape Incomplete Dominance      
    Face Shape Incomplete Dominance      
    Skin Color Incomplete Dominance      
    Cleft Chin Simple Dominance      

    Now that you have recorded this information, you and your partner will each need to create a gamete with your respective alleles. You can do so by having one person place their two alleles for the first trait in a paper bag, randomly removing one, and recording the allele in the table below. Each person should randomly select one allele per trait and record the allele in its appropriate box until the “Your Gamete” and “Partner Gamete” columns are filled in. Then, using the information on the allele sticks and information below, determine the offspring phenotype in the last column.

    Table 9.7 Gametes and Offspring Phenotype
    Trait Type Your Gamete Allele Partner Gamete Allele Resulting Offspring Phenotype
    Hair Color Incomplete Dominance      
    Hair Texture Incomplete Dominance      
    Freckles Simple Dominance      
    Eye Color Simple Dominance      
    Eye Shape Simple Dominance      
    Nose Shape Incomplete Dominance      
    Face Shape Incomplete Dominance      
    Skin Color Incomplete Dominance      
    Cleft Chin Simple Dominance      

    Now, draw your, your partner’s and the offspring’s faces using the phenotypes.

    Your Face (Table 9.5) Partner’s Face (Table 9.6) Offspring’s Face (Table 9.7)
         

    What phenotypes do you share with the created offspring? Which phenotypes are different?

    Did any similarities or differences surprise you? Why?

    Did the offspring share more similarities with one “parent”? Why do you think that?


    This page titled 9.5: Gametes and Fertilization is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Karen Marks and Valeria Hochman Adler.

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