Not-so-Simple Inheritance Patterns - WordPress.com · Inheritance • 2 alleles • 2 phenotypes...
Transcript of Not-so-Simple Inheritance Patterns - WordPress.com · Inheritance • 2 alleles • 2 phenotypes...
Not-so-Simple
Inheritance
Patterns
Remember…
• Genes are
sections of a
chromosome
that have coded
instructions for
making proteins.
• Alleles are
different forms of
a gene.
Simple
Inheritance
• 2 alleles
• 2 phenotypes
• One allele is
dominant
• The other allele is
recessive
• The DOMINANT allele
completely masks the
recessive allele
Mendel Got Lucky
• In many ways Gregor
Mendel was quite lucky
in discovering his 4
genetic laws.
• He happened to use
pea plants.
• Things in nature aren’t
always so simple.
Not-so-Simple Inheritance
• 4 Main Types
– Codominance
– Incomplete Dominance
– Multiple Alleles
– Polygenic Traits
Codominance
• “Co” means together!
• Codominance = two alleles are dominant together.
• This produces a third heterozygous phenotype where BOTH traits are expressed TOGETHER
• Ex: Human Blood Type – A
– B
– O
– AB
Red Cow x White Cow Roan Cow
Roan cattle have both red and white hairs mixed in together!
Codominance
red x white red & white spotted
Incomplete Dominance
• Incomplete
Dominance =
neither of the two
alleles is
completely
dominant
• This produces a
third heterozygous
phenotype where
the traits are
BLENDED.
Amel & Ultra are incompletely
dominant to each other.
Amel x Ultra Ultramel
Incomplete Dominance
red flower x white flower PINK flower
Multiple Alleles
• Any of a set of three or more alleles.
• Only two of alleles can be present in a diploid organism.
• Examples:
– Human Blood Type
– Human skin, hair, and eye colors
Polygenic Traits • Result of the interaction of several genes
• Human skin, hair, and eye color
– Influenced by more than one gene at different
locations on the chromosomes
• Human Blood Pressure
– Not just 1 “blood pressure” gene with several alleles
– Caused by several genes that control other traits such
as weight, cholesterol level, kidney function, etc…
• Human Height
– The combined size of all of the body parts from head
to foot determines the height of an individual.
Role of Environment • Our environment also plays a key role in
how traits are expressed.
• Genes can be turned on/off due to
external environmental factors.
• Examples:
– Stress
– Nutrition
– Chemical exposure
– Light
– Temperature
Example of Environmental
Influence
• Human Height is heavily influenced by
hormones produced in the pituitary gland
and our diet during childhood and puberty.
• Usually, about 10% of an individual's
height is due to the environment.