Each gene occupies a particular location on the chromosome and this called a locus.
An allele is one specific form of a gene, differing from other alleles by one or a few bases only and occupying the same gene locus as other alleles of the gene.
In this activity, we use the two coins instead of the two alleles, one from mother and one from father. One is dominate one is recessive. We can set the side with the face be dominate, the other side be recessive. Then we throw the coin. We can get the allele from mother and father. The percentage will be same if we do the coin or mitosis – 50%.
Because of this we do the same job. We can get to chromosome from father and mother. Of course get the different allele which has different
Then we can get the genotype. That’s why we can get the phenotype from the resource. As a result we can get the specific traits of our child. Such as face shape and so on.
- Using the specific example from this activity, explain the following terms.
- Allele
Allele is the different form of same gene. Such as the face shape, the gene is same. They both carry the face shape. But they can be R or r.
- Homozygous
Such as Darwin’s Earpoints present DD. DD is homozygous.
- genotype
Genotype is the genetic make up, such as the eye size the gene shows Ee. Ee is the genotype.
- dominant
For the face shape Rr or RR will be round face. R is dominant.
- phenotype
Phenotype likes the catachrestic. Such as face shape is round. Hair type is straight and so on.
- recessive
For the face shape Rr or RR will be round face. Bur rr will be square face. So r is recessive.
- heterozygous
Such as mouse size Mm will be average. Mm is heterozygous.
- Explain how the coin flip does the following
- Creates the same probability as getting one allele of a pair.
The percentage to get the head side or the other side is both 50%. Because of parent’s genotype is heterozygous. For the meiosis it will has 2 stages, meiosis 1 and meiosis 2. First it will have two identical daughter cells which have same chromosome number. Then it will have 4 non-identical daughter cells which contain 2 chromotids. The chance of those 4 chromotids in meiosis will have 50% to get in meiosis 2. So the percentage will be same.
- Relates to the probability of inheriting genetic conditions
Because the probability of getting one allele of a pair is random you can not make sure it will be exactly 50%. The chance for the daughter cell can be over or less than 50%.
The coin do the same job. If you filp coin twenty times you will not get exactly 10 times heads or 10 times tails. The pecentage will chage a little bit. It will not stay exactly same percentage.
- Explain in your own words
- law of segregation
For example the face shape. There are two alleles control this catachrestic, R and r. They are different form of same gene. The parents are both heterozygous Rr. But when the meiosis happens the allele with R and r will randomize give to their children. We can use a punt square to prove this. That’s why both parents are round face but their children could be square face.
- law of independent assortment
In this law alleles are randomly assorted into each gamete. For example the gene which control face shape and nose shape will not mix together when the meiosis happen. The allele controls face shape will separate while meiosis. But the allele controls the nose shape can stay with the face shape. They can get together. Each trait will not influence other traits. Each trait is independent. A baby has straight hair do not have to have square face and so on. Hence it can support the low of Independent Assortment.
- Explain the genotype and phenotype of skin color.
In this activity to determine the color if skin assume there are three gene pairs involved. As a result we need to flip the coin three times to get three pairs of allele (gene). A B C will be dominate gene and a b c will be the recessive gene. Each capital letter represent an active allele for pigmentation. So rhe genotype will involved 3 pairs of genes with active allele and non-active allele. For example AABBCC will be bery dark black skin color. More active allele (dominate) the skin color will be darker. No capital will be white skin color, so more non-active(recessive) gene, the skin color will be lighter.
- Does or does not represent real life
Yes it does. In this activity, we suggest both parents will be hetrezygous. We flip the coins instead of the meiosis. By fliping the coin, it creats the same probability as getting one allele of a pair and also relates to the same probability of inheriting genetic condition. Although it is only a game to create our baby. But it can represent the real life. It support Mendel’s first and second law – low of segregation and low of Independent.
- Any traits you find desirable.
The very prominent chin shape, connected eyebrow and the hairy ears. The first two looks ugly. Nowadays people like beautiful things. They hate ugly things. They also hope themselves to be beautiful. So people do not like ugly things include me. The hairy ears make me feel queasiness. This come from the movie and the personal thinking. Parents alwys want their children to be beautiful and cute. They won’t hope their childre to be stranger and ugly.
