Continuity &

Inheritance
Ms. Devta Ramroop
Inheritance of Characteristics

Humans have thousands of characteristics. The combination of these

characteristics is what makes each person unique.
The Structure of DNA

▪ DNA is made up of thousands

of nucleotides.
▪ Each nucleotide contains:
– A phosphate
– A sugar
– A base
Bases in DNA

▪ There are 4 bases in DNA:

– Adenine (A)
– Thymine (T)
– Cytosine (C)
– Guanine (G)

▪ The pairs of bases are held

together by Hydrogen bonds.
▪ They always combine A – T and
C – G.
Genes

▪ A gene is a section of ▪ These 2 forms are called

chromosomal DNA that gives alleles.
code for a particular
characteristic. ▪ Allele for right handedness is
denoted by R, left handedness
▪ A gene is always found in the is denoted by r.
same location on a
chromosome, but takes 2
different forms.
▪ For example, one gene
determines left handedness or
right handedness.
To be continued…
Dominant and Recessive Genes

▪ Each Chromosome in a pair carries one allele for a particular

characteristic.
▪ In a pair of chromosomes you can have either 2 identical alleles (RR,
rr) or 2 different alleles (Rr, rR).
▪ Usually one of the alleles is stronger (DOMINANT) and it controls
what happens when the characteristic is passed on.
▪ Example: R is dominant, right handed persons have RR/Rr/rR alleles.
▪ Having rr alleles means that you are left handed and have RECESSIVE
alleles.
Dominant and Recessive Genes

▪ Usually the darker genes for Dominant Recessive

eye and hair color are Dark Hair Light Hair
dominant. Curly Hair Straight Hair
Early Grey Hair No early greying
Brown Eyes Blue eyes
Freckles No Freckles
Lobed Ears Joined Ear Lobes
Tongue Can Roll Non-tongue Rolling
Normal Skin Albinism
Coloring
The Punnett Square
Gametes r r
▪ A geneticist, R.C. Punnett R Rr Rr
developed a system to predict R Rr Rr
what characteristics off springs
may inherit. All off springs will be right handed (100%)
Gametes R r
▪ The alleles of one parent is
R RR Rr
written along the top.
R RR Rr
▪ The alleles of the other parent
is written down the side. All off springs will be right handed (100%)
Gametes R r
▪ The possible combinations are R RR Rr
written in the blocks. r Rr rr

¾ off springs will be right handed (75%), ¼

will be left handed (25%)
Exercises

▪ Cross two individuals for hair color black/brown (one that is

homozygous recessive and the other has the dominant phenotype,
but had a mother with the recessive phenotype.
NB:
▪ Genotype: kinds of alleles on a chromosome e.g. bb/BB
▪ Phenotype: the physical appearance of the individual e.g. blonde hair
▪ Homozygous: when an individual carries two identical alleles e.g. bb
▪ Heterozygous: when an individual carries two different alleles e.g. Bb

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agQpPPQ5I
VQ
To Be Continued…
Questions

▪ In mice, the gene for eye color has two alleles. The allele for black
eyes is dominant, while the allele for red eyes is recessive. Choose
suitable symbols for these alleles and then draw a genetic diagram to
show the cross between a heterozygous black eyed mouse and a red
eyed mouse.
▪ B- black eyes, b-red eyes….. BB-black – bb – red… Bb- black (carrier
for red)
▪ Heterozygous black eyed mouse – Bb, red eyes - bb
Questions

▪ The diagram below shows inheritance of height in a family. The allele

for tallness is represented by T (dominant) and the allele for
shortness is represented by t (recessive).
▪ Identify the term designated X.
▪ Which of the offspring would be
– Homozygous recessive?
– Homozygous dominant?

▪ Which of the offspring has the same genotype as the father?

Partial Dominance

▪ Crossings don’t always follow the dominant and recessive crossing

patterns.
▪ Partial dominance can take the form of INCOMPLETE DOMINANCE
or CODOMINANCE.
Incomplete Dominance

▪ Neither of the traits are completely dominant over each other.

▪ Red flowers – RR and White flowers – WW… new phenotype created.
Codominace

▪ Co-dominance occurs when the contributions of both alleles are

visible in the phenotype. None dominant.
▪ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJHGfbW55l0
Blood Type

▪ Sometimes a characteristic is controlled by more than 2 alleles.

▪ Human blood groups are controlled by 3 alleles: A, B and O.
▪ An individual has 2 out of 3 of these alleles.
▪ A and B control production of the antigens that determine blood
group.
▪ A and B are CODOMINANT but both DOMINANT over O.
Blood Type

Phenotype Antigen on red blood cells Blood group

AA or AO A A
BB OR BO B B
AB A and B AB
OO Neither A nor B O

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
9O5JQqlngFY
Examples

Gametes A A Gametes B O
B AB AB A AB AO
O AO AO O BO OO

50% Blood type AB 25% Blood type AB

50% Blood type A 25% Blood type A
25% Blood type B
25% Blood type O