CH 9 Continued

Variations on Mendels
Principles
Mendels principles

are not applicable to all

situations regarding patterns of inheritance
1) Incomplete dominance
2) Many genes have more than 2 alleles
3) Genes may be linked
4) Sex linked genes

Incomplete Dominance
Intermediate

phenotype

Dosage effect

No

clear dominance of 1 allele over another

Some flower colors

hypercholesterolemia

Hypercholesterolemia
Homozygotes

for the normal allele have

normal cholesterol levels
Heterozygotes have (1/500 people) have
double the normal level
Homozygous recessives (1/1 million) is 5x
the normal level
Heart attacks at age 2

Multiple Alleles
Most

genes have more than two alleles

Blood groups
A,B,O
Carbohydrates found on surface of blood cells
Type A, Type B, Type AB, Type O (Neither)
Codominance

Pleiotropy
1

gene = Multiple characteristics

Many genes actually behave this way

Sickle-cell
Due to sickle shape of blood cells vs. round
Sickle cell anemia
Heterozygotes more resistant to malaria

Normal

Polygenic Inheritance
Many

genes responsible for 1 characteristic

Opposite of pleiotropy
Human skin color

Chromosome Theory of
Inheritance
Genes

are on chromosomes
The movement of chromosomes account for
the pattern of inheritance observed by
Mendel

Linked Genes
Genes

located next to each other on the

same chromosome
Disobeys Mendels rule of independent
assortment during meiosis
Crossing over has to occur between the
linked genes to obey the rule

Sex Linked Inheritance

Mammals
The

X chromosome contains more genes

than the Y chromosome
As a consequence, males carry only one
gene copy of those located on the X
chromosome
Recessive genes on the X chromosome will

never be masked in males

Sex Linked Inheritance

Genes

to see certain colors are on the X

chromosome
The main reason why male are more prone to

color blindness
Hemophilia
Unable to form blood clots

Pedigrees
Family

Tree
Ability to trace a specific trait in your
family history