Learning Objectives

• To describe DNA in terms of bases, genes,

alleles and chromosomes.

• Demonstrate and understanding of

monohybrid inheritance (inheritance pattern
of a single gene) using Punnett squares and
genetic diagrams.
 What makes organisms different?
Organisms differ because they have different
genes.

 Humans have human genes

 Gerbils have gerbil genes

 Bananas have (yes,

Nobody else in the whole you’ve guessed it)
world has the same DNA banana genes!
as you!
 Genetic information

 The nucleus of living cells contain chromosomes which are made up

of a string of genes.

 Different genes control the development of different

characteristics by issuing instructions to the cell.

 One gene contains the instructions for one protein. Several genes
work together to form a single characteristic, e.g. eye colour.
 What is DNA?
Chromosomes and their genes are made of a molecule called
DNA.
DNA stands for
deoxyribonucleic
acid.
The DNA molecule
looks like a
twisted ladder consisting
Each chromosome of two strands. This
is a very long molecule spiral shape is
of tightly coiled DNA. called a
DOUBLE HELIX
DNA molecules carry the code that controls what cells are
made of and what they do.
 DNA Bases
The double helix ‘ladder’ of a DNA molecule is held
together by bases.

There are four types of bases, and they are usually

identified by their initials.

A
C
G
T
 DNA Bases
Base pairs hold the two strands of the DNA helix together.

C G
A T
C G
A T

It is the sequence of these bases along a DNA molecule that

forms the genetic code
Genes and Alleles – inherited variation
Genes:
• Each chromosome carries
a large number of genes.
• Each gene does a
particular job.
• Many genes work
together controlling
variation in our
characteristics – e.g. Eye
colour; hair colour.
Genes and Alleles – inherited variation
Alleles:
• A different form of the same
gene
• Same gene with slightly
different instructions to
create variation (blue eyes;
brown eyes)
• There are many alleles of
the same gene
• Two copies of every
chromosome; two copies of
every gene; each copy of a
gene may be a different
allele – variation!!!!
physical the set of genes (alleles)
appearance of an that an organism
organism. possesses

different forms
of the same
gene

when the two alleles

when two alleles
are different
(gene types) are
identical
 allele which controls
the characteristic
whenever it is
present.
BB or Bb

allele whose characteristics only show up

when it is present on both chromosomes
bb
PUNNET SQUARES
Meet Bob:
Bob is confused
He needs your help
Bob has blue eyes
Both of his parents have brown
eyes
How can Bob have blue eyes?
PUNNET SQUARES
Genes are on Chromosomes
Chromosomes come in pairs…
one from each parent
Each chromosome contains
genes
Each gene will code for a
particular characteristic
Variations of the same gene are
called Alleles (e.g brown/black
hair; blue/green eyes)
PUNNET SQUARES
Some alleles will be DOMINANT
over others…
Eg Brown eyes B

Other alleles will be recessive

Eg Blue eyes b
PUNNET SQUARES
So when the egg that made Bob
was fertilised, the
chromosomes coding for eye
colour joined… He could either
have had
BB = Brown eyes (Homozygous)
bb = Blue eyes (Homozygous)
Bb = Brown eyes still
(Heterozygous)
PUNNET SQUARES
We need to think about what
Bob’s Parents had as alleles for
eye colour.

Bobs Dad = Brown Eyes =

Bobs Mum = Brown Eyes =

 Punnet Square

Bobs Mum -
B B

Bobs B
Dad
B
-
 Punnet Square

Bobs Mum -
B b

Bobs B
Dad
B
-
 Punnet Square
Bobs Mum -
B B

Bobs B
Dad
b
-
 Punnet Square
Bobs Mum -
B b

Bobs B
Dad-
b
 Punnet Square

Bobs Mum -
B b

Bobs b
Dad
b
-
 Punnet Square

Bobs Mum -
b b

Bobs b
Dad
b
-
 Questions
1. What is a dominant allele?
2. What is a recessive allele?
3. What does homozygous and
heterozygous mean?
4. If a heterozygous man with dimples
fathers a child with a woman with no
dimples what is the probability of a
child with dimples?
 Dimples
The allele for dimples (D) is dominant
over the allele for no-dimples (d).

D D Probability
of a child
d Dd Dd with
dimples
d Dd Dd 100%
 Dimples
The allele for dimples (D) is dominant
over the allele for no-dimples (d).

d d Probability
of a child
d dd dd with
dimples
d dd dd 0%
 Dimples
The allele for dimples (D) is dominant
over the allele for no-dimples (d).

D d Probability
of a child
D DD Dd with
dimples
d Dd dd 75%
 Dimples
The allele for dimples (D) is dominant
over the allele for no-dimples (d).

D d Probability
of a child
d Dd dd with
dimples
d Dd dd 50%
 Albinism
The allele for normal melanin (M)
is dominant over the allele for
albinism (m).

M m Probability
of a child
M MM Mm with
albinism
m Mm mm 25%
 Earwax
The allele for wet earwax (W) is
dominant over the allele for dry
earwax (w).

W W Probability
of a child
w Ww Ww with dry
earwax
w Ww Ww 0%
 Polydactyly
The allele for six fingers (P) is
dominant over the allele for five
fingers (p).

P p Probability
of a child
p Pp pp with six
fingers
p Pp pp 50%