Activity 1

Pedigree Analysis
I. Objective
Use pedigree analysis to determine how an example of human physical traits (attached and detached
earlobes) are inherited.

II. Pedigree Chart

II

III

III. Observation
If earlobes hang free, they are detached. If they connect directly to the sides of the head, they are
attached. Earlobe attachment is a continuous trait: while most earlobes can be neatly categorized as
attached or unattached, some are in-between. In this generations, it can be clearly observed how one trait
can be passed down through generations, either one member is carrying it or already been affected by it.

From the first generation of my father side, my grandfather has detached earlobes and my grandmother
earlobes are attached. In my mother side, both have attached earlobes. In the second generation, where my
mother's siblings have attached earlobes including my mother. In my father side, three of them have
attached earlobe, including my father. Five of his siblings have detached earlobe. In the third generation, my
two brothers and I have an attached earlobe except for my third brother who inherited a detached earlobe.

IV. Conclusion
Among us in the third generation, my third brother inherited detached earlobe. If parents with attached
earlobes give birth to a baby with free earlobes, it is certain that both of them had both a copy of the
dominant and recessive allele.