What are some reasons why an experimental monohybrid cross d
What are some reasons why an experimental monohybrid cross does not result in a 3:1 ratio? Also, what are some reasons an experimental dihybrid cross does not result in a 9:3:3:1 ratio?
Solution
Monohybrid Cross: A monohybrid cross is a mating between two individuals with different alleles at one genetic locus of interest. The characters being studied in a monohybrid cross are governed by two or multiple alleles for a single locus.
 Assumptions:
 1. The gene in question shows a dominant/recessive relationship
 2. Cross heterozygotes (Aa x Aa)
 If these two assumptions are meet, then what is the expected monohybrid phenotypic ratio 3 dominant : 1 recessive
Exceptions to the 3 : 1 ratio:
Incomplete Dominance:
Gene: Flower color
Alleles: R = red (pigment produced)
r = white (no pigment produced)
Cross heterozygotes:
             Rr x   Rr
 Progeny:
             1/4 RR = red
             2/4 Rr = pink
             1/4 rr = white
Test Cross of the Pink Phenotype
             Rr x rr
 Progeny:
             ½ Rr = pink
             ½ rr = white
 Ratio: 1 : 1
Codominance
Gene: Hair color
Alleles: ro = red hair
 r1 = white hair
 3. Cross heterozygotes:
             r0r1 x r0r1
              (Roan)
     1/4 r0r0 + 2/4 r0r1 + 1/4 r1r1
         Red         Roan        White
         1       :       2       :       1
 4. Roan = Rust Color
 5. Results from a mixture of red hairs and white hairs.
2. Inviability of Progeny :
Lethal Genes: 3 : 0
Example: Chlorophyll production in corn (with photograph of albino corn)
 Gene: chlorophyll production
 Alleles:
             C = chlorophyll produced
             c = chlorophyll not produced (Albino Corn)
 Cross heterozygotes:
                 Cc x Cc
                  (green)
 Progeny:
         1/4 CC + 2/4 Cc + 1/4 cc
            green       green      white (die)
 Ratio: 3 green : 0 white
Dihybrid Cross: Dihybrid cross is a cross between two different lines (varieties, strains) that differ in two observed traits. In the Mendelian sense, between the alleles of both these loci there is a relationship of complete dominance - recessive.
Assumptions:
Exceptions to the 9 : 3 : 3 : 1 dihybrid phenotypic ratio:
1. Intermediate Dominance
Inviability of Progeny - Lethal genes
Genes are Linked
Epistasis
Epistasis: Example: Deaf-Mutism in Humans
Gene 1: Cochlea development
                 D = normal development
                 d = non-functional development
 Gene 2: Auditory nerve development
                 E = normal development
                 e = non-development
 Cross two heterozygotes: DdEe x DdEe
 What is the phenotype of each heterozygote? Why? (Normal hearing)
DdEe x DdEe
 What gametes will each parent of this cross produce?
 (1/4 DE + 1/4 De + 1/4 dE + 1/4 de)
Set up a Punnett square and determine the results.
                     DdEe x DdEe
 Progeny:
                 9 D_E_         Normal
                 3 D_ee          Deaf
                 3 ddE_          Deaf
                 1 ddee           Deaf
 Ratio:  9 : 7 (instead of a 9:3:3:1)


