Introduction to Genetics and Patterns
of Inheritance
3 Applied Genetics
REVIEW Recall the definition of the Review Vocabulary term.
VOCABULARY
hybrid an organism that is heterozygous for a particular trait
hybrid
NEW VOCABULARY Use your book to define each term. Then look through the section to
selective breeding find a sentence with each term and write the sentence.
Sentences will vary; important points are listed.
inbreeding selective breeding the process of breeding plants and animals for
test cross
desired traits
inbreeding mating between closely related individuals; ensures that
offspring are homozygous for most traits, but might also bring out
harmful, recessive traits
test cross mating of an individual of unknown genotype with an
individual that is homozygous recessive for the desired trait; can help
determine the unknown genotype of the parent
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3 Applied Genetics (continued)
Analyze inbreeding and hybridization by identifying the effect, an
advantage, and a disadvantage of each.
Inbreeding
advantage: effect:
helps eliminate creates individuals who
undesired traits, and are homozygous for
ensure desired traits most traits
disadvantage:
harmful recessive
traits can be
passed on
Hybridization
advantage: effect:
organisms can be bred hybrid organism created
to have a certain by crossing parents with
combination of traits different traits
disadvantage:
time-consuming and
expensive
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Get It? Describe the disadvantages associated with hybridization
and inbreeding.
Hybridization can take long amounts of time and is expensive. Inbreeding
can allow harmful recessive traits to appear more frequently.
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3 Applied Genetics (continued)
Create a Punnett Square that shows the result of each test cross.
Heterozygous: Homozygous:
y y y y
Y Yy Yy Y Yy Yy
y yy yy Y Yy Yy
Summarize how test crosses work by using the words genotype and
phenotype to complete the sentence.
In a test cross, the phenotype of the offspring can reveal the
genotype of the parents.
Analyze the use of a test cross to determine the genotype of a
yellow flower by completing the prompts.
The genotype of the white flower: yy
Possible genotypes of the yellow flower: YY or Yy
Possible Possible
Phenotypes Genotypes
offspring if the 50% white white: yy
yellow flower is 50% yellow yellow: YY or Yy
heterozygous
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offspring if the 100% yellow YY or Yy
yellow flower is
homozygous
CONNECT
Selective breeding practices have been used since ancient times. Provide specific examples where
selective breeding has resulted in plants or animals that are familiar to us today.
Accept all reasonable responses, including Clydesdale horses, Angus cattle, German shepherds, Saint
Bernards, huskies, corn, beans, and flowers.
Science Notebook • Introduction to Genetics and Patterns of Inheritance
136
3 Applied Genetics (continued)
CHECK YOUR PROGRESS
1. Assess the effect of selective breeding on food crops.
Selective breeding can have positive effects on the production of food crops, including increasing
production and quality with lower maintenance and fewer unusable crops. However, selective
breeding is also expensive and time consuming.
2. Describe three traits that might be desired in sheep. How can these traits be passed
on to the next generation? Explain.
Desired traits might include longer, denser hair, faster maturation to adulthood, and increased lean
mass. Traits are passed on through hybridization or inbreeding.
3. Compare and contrast inbreeding and hybridization.
Both inbreeding and hybridization are ways to get desired traits for an offspring. Inbreeding involves
breeding closely related organisms that share the same desired trait, while hybridization involves
breeding parents with different desired traits.
4. Predict the phenotype of offspring from a test cross between a seedless orange (ss)
and an orange with seeds (Ss).
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Half the oranges would have seeds and half would be seedless.
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3 Applied Genetics (continued)
5. Evaluate Should a cow and a bull that both carry recessive alleles for a mutation
that causes decreased milk production be bred? Explain your answer using
probability.
If a breeder wishes to make sure that no calf has the mutation for decreased milk production,
then neither parent should carry the mutation. A cow and bull that both carry recessive alleles
for a mutation that causes decreased milk production will have a 25% chance of having
offspring that expresses the trait of decreased milk production.
6. A breeder performs a test cross to determine the genotype of a black cat. He
crosses the black cat (BB or Bb) with a white cat (bb). If 50 percent of the offspring
are black, what is the genotype of the black cat?
The genotype of the black cat is Bb.
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