Inheritance Practice revision workbook

This workbook will help you to review the following parts of the understand Bit unsure Still needs
specification: work

Remember that the genome is the entire DNA of an organism and that a
gene is a section of a molecule of DNA that codes for a specific protein.
Remember that the nucleus of a cell contains chromosomes on which
genes are located.
Describe how genes exist in alternative forms called alleles which give rise
to differences in inherited characteristics.
Describe the meaning of the terms: dominant, recessive, homozygous,
heterozygous, phenotype, and genotype.
Describe the meaning of the terms codominance and incomplete
dominance
Describe patterns of monohybrid inheritance using a genetic diagram.
Understand how to interpret family pedigrees.
Predict probabilities of outcomes from monohybrid crosses.
Describe how the sex of a person is controlled by one pair of
chromosomes.
Describe the determination of the sex of offspring at fertilisation, using a
genetic diagram.
Remember that in human cells the diploid number of chromosomes is 46
and the haploid number is 23.

DNA Basics

Almost all animal, plant and fungal cells have a ………………………..…….……

containing DNA. DNA contains the instructions for making all the ……….
………………………….. an organism needs, such as enzymes. A length of
DNA which is the code for making a particular protein is called a
……………..……… The word for the all the genetic instructions in an
organism is called the ……………………………….…………….

The DNA is organised into one or more lengths called …………………..………………………………………. Most human
cells have 46 chromosomes (…….. pairs), because there are 2 copies, these cells are called …………..……………

Bacterial cells have a single chromosome in a loop which is ………..…… contained in a nucleus. Human cells
which don’t contain the full set of 46 chromosomes are the ……..………………………….. (the sex cells) which
contain half the normal amount – the keyword for this is …………….…………………..
Variation
Use your knowledge or your notes to complete this table about genetic variation:

Word Meaning Example

Allele There are many versions of the gene

that makes the pigment protein in
hair

Dominant

Recessive

Heterozygous

Homozygous

Phenotype The phenotype of someone with an X

and Y chromosome is male

Genotype

Codominance
Genetics Practice Problems

1.  For each genotype below, indicate whether it is heterozygous (He), homozygous dominant (HoD) or
homozygous recessive (Hor).

AA _____ Ee ____ Ii _____ Mm _____

Bb _____ ff ____ Jj _____ nn _____

2.  For each of the genotypes below describe the phenotype. 

Purple flowers are dominant to white flowers. Brown eyes are dominant to blue eyes

PP __________________ BB ________________

Pp __________________ Bb ________________

pp __________________ bb ________________

Round seeds are dominant to wrinkled seeds. Bobtails in cats are recessive.

RR __________________ TT _________________

Rr __________________ Tt _________________

rr __________________ tt __________________

3.  For each phenotype below, list the genotypes (choose an appropriate letter yourself)

Straight hair is dominant to curly. Pointed leaves are dominant to round

leaves.
____ straight
_____ pointed
____ straight
_____ pointed
____ curly
_____ round
Monohybrid crosses

A monohybrid cross is the study of the inheritance of one characteristic. Questions in exams will ask you
use genetic diagrams to describe and explain how a characteristic could be inherited and also to use these
to predict probabilities.

Firstly make sure you show the possible alleles carried

by the parents’ cells (their genotype).

Then make it clear which alleles could be carried by the

gametes, remember that games only carry 1 copy of a
gene / 1 allele.
Use a crossing over diagram like the one to the left, or a
punnet square, to then show the possible genotypes of
the offspring.

Finally, state the phenotype that goes with each

genotype.

Complete the diagram on the left with the possible

genotypes and phenotypes of the offspring.

Some practice exam questions

Q1. In pigeons, the inheritance of bars at the end of the wings is controlled by a gene with two alleles.
The allele for wing bars (B) is dominant to the allele for no wing bars (b).
The diagram shows the phenotype of a pigeon with wing bars and the phenotype of a pigeon with no
wing bars.

(i)  In a first cross, a heterozygous parent mates with a homozygous recessive parent.
Complete the table by giving the genotype of each parent and complete the drawing to show the
possible phenotypes of their offspring.
(2)
 (ii)  In a second cross, two heterozygous pigeons mate.
Give the possible genotypes of their offspring.
(1)

(iii)  This second cross only produces one offspring.

Give the probability that this offspring will have wing bars.
(1)
.........................................................................................
 (Total for question = 4 marks)

Q2. FH (familial hypercholesterolaemia) is an inherited condition. People with FH have high levels of
blood cholesterol and an increased risk of heart disease.
A dominant allele (D) results in high levels of blood cholesterol. A recessive allele (d) results in low
levels of blood cholesterol. This means that people who inherit the dominant allele are most at risk of
FH.

(a) (i) What is meant by the term recessive?

(1)
      ..............................................................................................................................................
      ..............................................................................................................................................

(ii) What are the two different genotypes of people who are at risk of FH?
(2)
      ..............................................................................................................................................

(b) (i) In the boxes below give the genotypes of the parents, and the genotypes of all the possible
children, for a cross between a heterozygous father and a heterozygous mother. You should use the
symbols D for the dominant allele and d for the recessive allele in your answer.
(2)

(ii) What is the probability of these parents producing a child with FH?
(1)
      ..............................................................................................................................................

(Total for question = 6 marks)

Q3. In mammals, males have two different sex chromosomes (X and Y) and females have
two similar sex chromosomes (X and X).

However, in birds males have two similar sex chromosomes (Z and Z), while females have two different
sex chromosomes (Z and W).

(a) Complete the genetic diagram to show how sex is inherited in birds.
(4)

(Total for question = 4 marks)

Q4. Achondroplasia is an inherited condition in humans. Adults with achondroplasia are much shorter than
average height.

This condition is controlled by a gene with two alleles. The dominant allele (A) codes for shorter than
average height and the recessive allele (a) codes for average height.

(a) Two parents both had achondroplasia. They had a child who grew up to be of average height.

Use a genetic diagram to show:

 the genotype of each parent

 the gametes they produced
 the genotypes of all the possible offspring
 the phenotypes of all the possible offspring
(4)

(b) The parents had a second child.

State the probability that this child grew up to be of average height.

(1)
      ..............................................................................................................................................

(Total for question = 5 marks)

Pedigree Chart Activity
A pedigree is a diagram that shows the occurrence of a particular characteristic, as it is passed from one
generation to the next in a given family. From this information, along with an understanding of inheritance,
genotypes of individuals can often be determined.
Symbols for a Pedigree Chart

Follow the story below and create a pedigree chart.

This is the story of Grandma and Grandpa Fellowes, and their clan!
They were married way back in 1933 and have been just like
newlyweds ever since. From their union, 4 individuals were created.
Elizabeth, the eldest, was born in 1935. Fred soon followed in 1936.
In 1939 Michelle was brought into this world. Mickey, a surprise to
the whole family was the baby of the family, not being born until
1950.

Elizabeth fell in love at a young age, and wed her high school
sweetheart, David, in 1954. From this marriage, two bundles of joy
came about (at the same time): John and Sonny – 1955 (twins!)

It took Fred a little longer to find his soul mate. Finally in 1970, Fred found Wilma, and they were married. Since
they married so late in life, they only brought one new person into this world: Barney – 1972

Michelle sadly died at a young age.

Mickey chose Monica to spend the rest of his life with. They were wed in 1975 and brought two girls into this
world: Krista – 1977 and Janet – 1979

Draw the pedigree chart in the space below

(a) Now that you have your pedigree chart, shade the appropriate circles and squares using the
information below.
Remember that in this case, individuals who possess the RECESSIVE trait are to be filled in completely.
Individuals not shaded in have at least one dominant allele.
Freckles
Not having freckles is a recessive trait.
Grandpa Fellowes did not have freckles (so shade him in), but his beautiful bride did.
Fred and Michelle were the only two of their siblings to have freckles.
Of the grandchildren, the twins did not have freckles, and neither did Barney, but the two girls did.

(b) Now determine the genotypes of all individuals in this pedigree chart for freckles. Remember, having
no freckles is a RECESSIVE trait.
STEP 1
Using the letter B or b, assign two recessive alleles to any person on the pedigree whose symbol is shaded.
STEP 2
Assign one dominant allele to any person on the pedigree whose symbol is unshaded.
STEP 3
Use the information given to you to determine the second alleles for each person with the dominant
phenotype. There is one person for whom it is not possible to work out their full genotype.
HINT: We know that Grandpa Fellowes does not have freckles. If Grandma were BB, could any bb children
be produced from Grandma and Grandpa? If Grandma were Bb, could any bb children be produced from
them? Complete Punnett squares below, if necessary, to help determine your answers.

(c) Label your pedigree with the correct genotypes for each generation.
Q8. Huntington's disease causes damage to the nervous system. It is an inherited condition caused by a
dominant allele (H). Only individuals who are homozygous for the recessive allele (h) are protected from
the disease.
The diagram shows the inheritance of Huntington's disease in a family.

(a)  Complete the table to show how many people in the diagram fit each description. The first one has
been done for you.
(4)

(b)  Individuals A and B have both male and female children.

Draw a genetic diagram to show how they can produce both male and female children.
(3)

 
(Total for question = 7 marks)