Chance in Genetic Variation

EXPECTATIONS VS. REALITIES Making predictions is a part of the

scientific problem- solving process. As an example, consider the toss of a
coin. If a coin is tossed 10 times,
what head/tail count do you predict?
Tails: 5
What is your
Heads: 5
reason for this prediction?
If a coin is tossed 10 times with two
possible outcomes, there is 50% chance of
landing on each outcome. Leading to my
prediction of 5 to 5.
Now toss a coin 10 times and record your results: Heads: 4
Tails: 6
If the results of the trial do not match your prediction, what are
possible reasons?
Because of randomization, my prediction may be close, however, you
cannot expect a perfect ratio each time. Just like DNA, there will usually be
some form of variation.

When experimental results match ones expectations perfectly, there may

be cause for rejoicing. Often there is not a perfect match, however, and
doubts arise about the accuracy and adequacy of the data. Would you
demand a perfect result of 5 heads and
5 tails to consider the trial to be a fair one? no If not, how far of would you
allow
the result to be before you became suspicious of a trick? 3 How did you
decide that this is acceptable?
I believe a diference of 3 would be a fair variation to
expect; anything more would be unusually of from the
predictable outcome of 5 to 5.

VARIATION IN FAMILIES We are familiar with many examples of

variation within a species and even within a family. A strong element of
chance enters with each reproductive event a chance that a certain ovum
and a certain sperm, each having received a random mix of chromosomes,
will meet in fertilization. To simulate the se chance events, we will use
playing cards.
Monohybrid Cross Let the two colors of cards represent genes. Shuffle
the deck well, then split it into two equal piles. One pile represents sperm,
the other ova. Letting red cards represent dominant genes (R) and black
cards represent recessive genes (r), you have represented parents containing
Rr genes. What is your expectation or prediction of the variation possible in
the offspring?

I predict a slight variation of dominant and recessive cards, or traits.

Draw one card from each pile, representing meiosis, and record the genotype
resulting from fertilization. Keep a tally (IIII II) of at least 20 fertilizations, and
complete the data table to show how your results compare to your
expectations. Calculate the ratios as percents or decimals for easy
comparison with the expected, predicted ratio.
Genotype Tally

Total

Ratio

Expected Phenotype Ratio

Expected

RR
Rr
rr

5
9
6

25%
45%
30%

25%
50%
25%

/////
/////////
//////

14

70%

75%

30%

25%

Do your results match your expectations satisfactorily?

Not perfectly, however, my predictions are very close to my findings.

Dihybrid Cross
This time pile hearts and spades separately from
diamonds and clubs, and shuffle both piles. Let hearts = gene A, spades = a,
diamonds = B, and clubs = b. Using parents both AaBb and presuming
complete dominance as suggested by letter size, predict the variation within
the offspring of this mating. What phenotypes will be produced, and how
many of each?
I believe that the variation ratio of ofspring will be 9:3:3:1 because this is
a di-hybrid cross, similar to one of the learning activities. They will either be
AABB, AaBB, AaBb, AAbb, AABb, Aabb, aaBb, aabb.

Draw one card from each pile to form a sperm, then draw again one from
each pile to form an ovum. Place these together representing a fertilization,
and tally the genotype in the space below. Continue for at least 20
fertilizations, re-shuffling as needed, and complete the table. Calculate the
ratios as percents or decimals for easy comparison.
Hand
HHDD
HSDD
HHDC
HSDC
HHCC
HSCC
SSDD
SSDC
SSCC

Genotype
AABB
AaBB
AABb
AaBb
AAbb
Aabb
aaBB
aaBb
aabb

Tally ////
/
///
//
////////
//
/

///

Phenotype Total Ratio Expected Ratio

//////////////
14
70%
25%

///

15%

25%

25%

///

15%

25%

Do your results match your expectations satisfactorily? If they do not, what

no
are possible reasons?
I expected an equal number amongst all variations; however, the ratios
are very diferent to what I predicted. The most common variation was AaBb.

Trihybrid Cross Studying three gene pairs simultaneously is more work,

but gives us a more realistic view of variation. Given the genotype AaBbCc
in a parent, determine how many diferent gene combinations can exist in
each sex cell. Remember that only one member of each gene pair goes into
sex cell formation, so each cell has a set of three diferent genes: A or a, B or
b, C or c.
Gene combinations: 16

Considering all genes

Assuming that you do not have an identical twin,
do you suppose that your genes could entirely match those of another
person? No
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