Mendelian Genetics

Question 1

Mendel’s Law of Independent Assortment

Answer 1

each pair of alleles segregates independently of each other pair of alleles during gamete formation (but this only really works for genes on separate chromosomes)

Question 2

Mendel’s Law of Segregation

Answer 2

the two alleles for a heritable character separate (segregate) during gamete formation and end up in different gametes

Question 3

Mendel’s Observations:

Answer 3

1. 1st : alternate versions of genes account for variations in inherited characters
   Alleles - alternative versions of a gene
2. 2nd : for each character, an organism inherits two alleles, one from each parent
   The two alleles at a locus may be identical, as in Mendel’s P generation
   OR: the two alleles at a locus may differ, as in the F1 hybrids
3. 3rd: if the two alleles at a locus differ
   the dominant allele - determines the organism’s appearance
   the recessive allele - has no noticeable effect on appearance
4. 4th: (now the law of segregation)
   alleles separate (segregate) during gamete formation and end up in different gametes

Question 4

Epistasis

Answer 4

• a gene at one locus alters the phenotypic expression of a gene at a second locus

Question 5

Polygenic inheritance

Answer 5

an additive effect of two or more genes on a single phenotype