Do Dihybrid crosses always have a 9 3 3 1 ratio?

Dihybrid cross is a cross between two individuals with two observed traits that are controlled by two distinct genes. The idea of a dihybrid cross came from Gregor Mendel when he observed pea plants that were either yellow or green and either round or wrinkled. Crossing of two heterozygous individuals will result in predictable ratios for both genotype and phenotype in the offspring. The expected phenotypic ratio of crossing heterozygous parents would be 9:3:3:1.[1] Deviations from these expected ratios may indicate that the two traits are linked or that one or both traits has a non-Mendelian mode of inheritance.

Mendelian History

Gregor Mendel was an Austrian monk who bred peas plants in his monastery garden and compared the offspring to figure out inheritance of traits form 1856-1863.[2] He first started looking at individual traits, but began to look at two distinct traits in the same plant. In his first experiment, he looked at the two distinct traits of pea color (yellow or green) and pea shape (round or wrinkled).[3] He applied the same rules of a monohybrid cross to create the dihybrid cross. From these experiments, he determined the phenotypic ratio (9:3:3:1) seen in dihybrid cross for a heterozygous cross.[1]

Through these experiments, he was able to determine the basic law of independent assortment and law of dominance. The law of independent assortment states that traits controlled by different genes are going to be inherited independently of each other.[3] Mendel was able to determine this law out because in his crosses he was able to get all four possible phenotypes. The law of dominance states that if one dominant allele is inherited then the dominant phenotype will be expressed.[3]

Expected genotype and phenotype ratios

The phenotypic ratio of a cross between two heterozygotes is 9:3:3:1, where 9/16 of the individuals possess the dominant phenotype for both traits, 3/16 of the individuals possess the dominant phenotype for one trait, 3/16 of the individuals possess the dominant phenotype for the other trait, and 1/16 are recessive for both traits.[1] Valid only for Angiosperms or similar sexually reproducing organisms. This is assuming that Mendel's laws are followed.

The expected phenotypic ratio of 9:3:3:1 can be broken down into:

• the 9 represents the proportion of individuals displaying both dominant traits: 1 x RRYY + 2 x RRYy + 2 x RrYY + 4 x RrYy
• the first 3 represents the individuals displaying the first dominant trait and the second recessive trait: 1 x RRyy + 2 x Rryy
• the second 3 represents those displaying the first recessive trait and second dominant trait: 1 x rrYY + 2 x rrYy
• the 1 represents the homozygous, displaying both recessive traits: 1 x rryy
• The genotypic ratio are: RRYY 1: RRYy 2: RRyy 1: RrYY 2: RrYy 4: Rryy 2: rrYY 1: rrYy 2: rryy 1

In the example pictured to the right, RRYY/rryy parents result in F1 offspring that are heterozygous for both R and Y (RrYy).[4]

Another example is listed in the table below and illustrates the process of a dihybrid cross between pea plants with multiple traits and their phenotypic ratio patterns. Dihybrid crosses are easily visualized using a 4 x 4 Punnett square. In these squares, the dominant traits are uppercase, and the recessive traits of the same characteristic is lowercase.

• In the following case the example of pea plant seed is chosen. The two characteristics being compared are

1. Shape: round or wrinkled (Round (R) is dominant)
2. Color: yellow or green (Yellow (Y) is dominant)

• This implies that Rr will be a round seed and Yy will be a yellow seed. Only rr will be a wrinkled seed and yy will be a green seed.

See also

• Gregor Mendel
• William Bateson
• Mendelian inheritance
  • Law of dominance
  • Law of segregation
  • Law of independent assortment
  • Monohybrid cross

References

1. ^ a b c Ahluwalia, Karvita B. (2009). Genetics (2nd ed.). New Delhi: New Age International. ISBN 978-81-224-2880-3. OCLC 430838253.
2. ^ Ellis, T. H. Noel; Hofer, Julie M. I.; Timmerman-Vaughan, Gail M.; Coyne, Clarice J.; Hellens, Roger P. (16 November 2011). "Mendel, 150 years on". Trends in Plant Science. 16 (11): 590–596. doi:10.1016/j.tplants.2011.06.006. ISSN 1878-4372. PMID 21775188.
3. ^ a b c Klug, William S. (2015). Concepts of genetics. Michael R. Cummings, Charlotte A. Spencer, Michael Angelo Palladino (Eleventh ed.). Boston. ISBN 978-0-321-94891-5. OCLC 880404074.
4. ^ "The Dihybrid Cross" - Open Door Archived February 7, 2010, at the Wayback Machine

External links

• "Dihybrid cross" - The Mosby Medical Encyclopedia
• "Dihybrid Cross - A Genetics Definition" - About:Biology

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dihybrid_cross&oldid=1117370818"

These type of crosses can be challenging to set up, and the square you create will be 4x4. This simple guide will walk you through the steps of solving a typical dihybrid cross common in genetics. The method can also work for any cross that involves two traits.

Consider this cross

A pea plant that is heterozygous for round, yellow seeds is self fertilized, what are the phenotypic ratios of the resulting offspring?

Step 1: Determine the parental genotypes from the text above, the word "heteroyzous" is the most important clue, and you would also need to understand that self fertilized means you just cross it with itself.

RrYy x RrYy

Step 2: Determine the gametes. This might feel a little like the FOIL method you learned in math class. Combine the R's and Ys of each parent to represent sperm and egg. Do this for both parents

Gametes after "FOIL"

RY, Ry, rY, ry (parent 1) and RY, Ry, rY, ry (parent 2)

Step 3: Set up a large 4x4 Punnet square, place one gamete set from the parent on the top, and the other on the side

Step 4: Write the genotypes of the offspring in each box and determine how many of each phenotype you have. In this case, you will have 9 round, yellow; 3 round, green; 3 wrinkled, yellow; and 1 wrinkled green

Some Shortcuts

In any case where the parents are heterozygous for both traits (AaBb x AaBb) you will always get a 9:3:3:1 ratio.

9 is the number for the two dominant traits, 3 is the number for a dominant/recessive combination, and only 1 individual will display both recessive traits.

Another way to determine the ratios is to do it mathematically

3/4 of all the offspring will have round seeds
3/4 of all the offspring will have yellow seeds

3/4 x 3/4 = 9/16 will have round, yellow seeds.

Crosses that Involve 2 Traits

Consider: RrYy x rryy

The square is set up as shown

You might notice that all four rows have the same genotype. In this case, you really only need to fill out the top row, because 1/4 is the same thing as 4/16