Inheritance, variation and probability
| English | 中文 | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| allele/əˈliːl/ | 等位基因 | děng wèi jī yīn |
| genotype/ˈdʒenətaɪp/ | 基因型 | jī yīn xíng |
What would explain this observation?
- Two parents can carry a recessive allele 等位基因 without expressing the associated phenotype. Their children do not have to match the parents phenotypically.
- Start with a prediction. State the quantities or features you would compare, then decide what evidence could distinguish two explanations.
Build the model
- An allele is a variant of a gene. A genotype 基因型 lists alleles; a phenotype is the expressed characteristic, influenced by genotype and sometimes environment. Dominant and recessive describe the relationship between alleles, not how common they are.
- allele: A variant of a gene; genotype: The alleles an organism carries.
What does a 25% probability in Aa × Aa mean?
In a simple monohybrid cross Aa × Aa, gametes carry A or a. Combining independent gametes gives AA, Aa, Aa and aa. The predicted probabilities describe many possible fertilizations, not a fixed order of children.
Match each technical term to its precise meaning.
Use the definitions to distinguish related quantities and processes.
Choose evidence that can test it
- In a simple monohybrid cross Aa × Aa, gametes carry A or a. Combining independent gametes gives AA, Aa, Aa and aa. The predicted probabilities describe many possible fertilizations, not a fixed order of children.
- Write parental genotypes and gametes before making the grid. State the inheritance model and phenotype key. Use a pedigree to check consistency with a model; do not infer certainty from a small family alone.
Which two habits make the investigation or model in this case more defensible?
Write parental genotypes and gametes before making the grid. State the inheritance model and phenotype key. Use a pedigree to check consistency with a model; do not infer certainty from a small family alone.
Work from known quantities
- State the known values and their units. Choose the relation because its assumptions fit this case, then rearrange before substitution.
- Known: Aa × Aa with complete dominance. Probability of aa = 1/4 = 25%. Probability of the dominant phenotype = 3/4 = 75%. If four children are born, there is no guarantee that exactly one has the recessive phenotype.
In Aa × aa, what percentage of offspring are predicted to be aa? Use the same sequence: known quantities → model → relation → substitution → unit and interpretation.
In Aa × aa, what percentage of offspring are predicted to be aa?
The result is 50 %. Known: Aa × Aa with complete dominance. Probability of aa = 1/4 = 25%. Probability of the dominant phenotype = 3/4 = 75%. If four children are born, there is no guarantee that exactly one has the recessive phenotype.
Check the conclusion and its limits
- A dominant allele can be rare. Mutation is a source of new variation; selection changes the relative success of existing variants rather than directing mutations toward a goal.
- Return to the original observation. Explain what the result supports, which conditions it assumes, and one way to test a competing explanation.
A dominant allele must be the most common allele in a population. This claim is false: A dominant allele can be rare. Mutation is a source of new variation; selection changes the relative success of existing variants rather than directing mutations toward a goal.
Inheritance, variation and probability: In a simple monohybrid cross Aa × Aa, gametes carry A or a. Combining independent gametes gives AA, Aa, Aa and aa. The predicted probabilities describe many possible fertilizations, not a fixed order of children.
A dominant allele must be the most common allele in a population.
A dominant allele can be rare. Mutation is a source of new variation; selection changes the relative success of existing variants rather than directing mutations toward a goal.
A variant of a gene: write the technical term.
allele means A variant of a gene.