Mono and Dihybrid Crosses

in Zea mays
• Why corn? Because of its economic importance, the genetics of corn
has been studied extensively.
• In sexual reproduction, two gametes fuse, bringing together
homologous chromosomes from both parents.
• Corn has 10 pairs of chromosomes. These are numbered 1, 2, 3, etc.
One member of each pair is inherited from the male parent and the
other is inherited from the female parent.
 Example: on
Chromosome 2, there
is a gene for plant
height, and there are
two forms or alleles of
this gene, D5, a
dominant allele for
normal height and d5,
a recessive allele for
dwarf height
Why do we use the information in previous slide?
To determine the expected counts.
• Example: Suppose we perform the cross and harvest 1000 F2 corn grains that we
got from the previous example. How many of these grains should we expect to
germinate into plants of normal height? How many dwarf plants should we
expect?
The expected ratio is 3:1. Since the total of 3+1 is 4, we first determine ¼ of the whole
(1000/4=250).
The expected count for 1000 grains is calculated as 3(250):1(250) or 750 normal
height to 250 dwarf plants in the F2.

• Then we compare the observed to the expected by directly observing the

phenotype.
Corn Kernel color

• Pericarp is always colorless

• Aleurone may be colorless or purple
• Endosperm may be yellow or white
Corn Kernel Color

• Color of aleurone masks

endosperm color
• Only with colorless aleurone
can endosperm color be
determined
Corn Kernel Color
1- Endosperm
• Gene Y code for the production of carotenoid pigment
Y: YELLOW
y: white
2- Aleurone
• Gene R code for the production of anthocyanin
R: PURPLE
r: colorless
Corn Kernel Color
• If the aleurone is colorless
The kernel color will be that of the endosperm either yellow or
white
• If the aleurone is colored
Allele R must be present
R/R and R/r give purple aleurone
r/r disrupts anthocyanin production and results in a colorless
aleurone
Monohybrid cross example
Endosperm characteristics

• Normal corn endosperm is high in amylose starch

• The gene Su in the homozygous recessive condition su/su produces
endosperm that is high in sugar
• As corn dries, its sugary endosperm loses water and its kernels
wrinkle
Dihybrid Cross:
 RS (25%) Rs (25%) rS (25%) rs (25%)

R: Purple
RS (25%) RRSS RRSs RrSS RrSs r: Yellow
S: Smooth
Rs (25%) RRSs RRss RrSs Rrss
s: Wrinkled

rS (25%) RrSS RrSs rrSS rrSs

rs (25%) RrSs Rrss rrSs rrss

Possible Combinations for this dihybrid cross:

Phenotypic ratio: 9:3:3:1
 • Used to see if experimental data supports the expected values
for the inheritance of the phenotype.
Do the actual count deviate from the expected? Or do
they fit exactly the same?
• Null hypothesis states that any variation of the observed
results from the expected results is due to chance.
• Chi-squared test is done for every observed phenotype. In
CHI-SQUARE monohybrid cross for example we only have 2 phenotypes so
we do it twice.
TEST
Chi-squred formula
How to analyze Chi-square result
In this table, note the column titled “Degrees of Freedom.” The degree of freedom
is always one less than the number of different phenotypes possible.

• In a monohybrid cross we observe 2 phenotypes -> 2-1=1

• In a dihybrid cross we observe 4 phenotypes (2 traits each with 2 phenotypes -> 4-1=3
More on analyzing Chi-Square test
• The percentages given at the top of each column represent the
probability that the variation of the observed results from the
expected results is due to chance.
• If the probability value is greater than 5%, we accept the null
hypothesis, so that means that our values fit the expected values, and
any change is due to chance.
• If the probability value is less than 5%, you reject the null hypothesis.
Example:
In an F2 population of 1016 Drosophila (fruit flies), there are 781 with normal wings and
235 with vestigial wings (expected numbers are 762 with normal wings and 254 with
vestigial wings).
Therefore:

Looking at the chi-square table for 1 degree of freedom and χ2 = 1.89, the probability is greater
than 5% but less than 20%.

This is greater than 5%.

Therefore, we accept the null hypothesis that the variation of actual counts from the expected
counts is due to chance.