Pp
Pp
Pp
Pp
P
P
p
PP
Pp
Pp
pp
3 Pp : 1 pp ratio
Part 2
Purpose
To determine that the dominant allele is on the X chromosome when a red eye fruit fly
female is cross with a white eye fruit fly male, and that it can be passed to successive
generation.
Introduction
The X and Y chromosomes determine the sex of the fly. Similar to human, Drosophila
fruit fly female have a genotype of XX and the male Drosophila have a genotype of XY.
Male produces two types of sperm, one has an X chromosome and the other has a Y
chromosome. The union of an egg with a sperm bearing an X chromosome produces XX
female zygote and the union of egg with a Y chromosome produces XY male zygote. The
fly expresses two different eye color. The alleles for both the red and white eye color are
If we cross: P
XWXW (Red female) X
Xw Y (white male)
Gametes XW
Xw Y
F1
XW Xw (Red female) X
1/2 XW
Gametes
F2
1/4 XWXW
Red female
Xw
1/2
XW
1/4 Xw XW
Red female
XW Y (Red male)
Y
1/4 XW Y
Red male
1/4 Xw Y
white male
Results
The genetic results are completely consistent with the known meiotic behavior of the X
and Y chromosome. The experiment strongly supports the hypothesis that the dominant
genes for red eye is located on the X chromosomes. In addition, it also support the notion
that both red and white eye genes are located on the X chromosomes.
Reference
Audesirk, T., Audesirk, G., & Byers, B. E. (2008). Biology: Life on Earth with
physiology.
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall
Griffiths et al. An introduction to Genetic Analysis. 5th Edition.