Genotype and testcross; Drosophila

In your experiments with Drosophila, you found that the wildtype allele that codes for grey adult insects is sometimes mutated, with mutants having a black colour. Similarly, you find that your population has alleles that code for vestigial wings instead of the wildtype normal wings. (Both mutations are recessive.) You want to know whether the two genes for body colour and wings are linked. In your preliminary crosses you have established a large number of individuals that you require for testcrosses.

9a. Which two genotypes will you use for the testcross? (Hint: One of the two genotypes should be a heterozygous dihybrid.) Use the common wildtype notation (e.g., “ar+ tg”) rather than the allele notation (VvZZ). For simplification, disregard the gender. (2)

9b. Indicate the two phenotypes of your testcross. (1)

9c. Indicate the genotypes of the progeny (next generation) of the testcross by drawing a Punnett square. (3)

Assuming a total number of 4400 flies for the progeny generation, what are your expectations for the ratio of genotypes if

9d. the two genes are linked? (1)

9e. the two genes are not linked? (1)

9f. Finally, if the two genes are not linked according to your results, would you expect that they lie on different chromosomes? Explain your answer. (2)

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9a. Testcross Genotypes

To determine if the genes for body color and wing shape are linked, we will perform a testcross using a heterozygous dihybrid individual. This individual will have the genotype ar+ tg/ar tg. The other individual used in the testcross will be a homozygous recessive individual with the genotype ar tg/ar tg.

 

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9b. Testcross Phenotypes

The two possible phenotypes resulting from this testcross are:

  • Gray body, normal wings
  • Black body, vestigial wings

9c. Punnett Square

ar tg ar tg
ar+ tg ar+ tg/ar tg ar+ tg/ar tg
ar tg ar tg/ar tg ar tg/ar tg

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9d. Genotype Ratio if Linked

If the genes are linked, we would expect to see a deviation from the expected Mendelian ratio of 1:1:1:1. The recombinant phenotypes (gray body, vestigial wings and black body, normal wings) would be less frequent than expected, while the parental phenotypes (gray body, normal wings and black body, vestigial wings) would be more frequent.

9e. Genotype Ratio if Not Linked

If the genes are not linked (independent assortment), we would expect to see a Mendelian ratio of 1:1:1:1 for the genotypes in the progeny.

9f. Linkage and Chromosomes

Yes, if the two genes are not linked according to our results, we would expect them to lie on different chromosomes. Independent assortment occurs when genes are located on different chromosomes or far apart on the same chromosome. If the genes were linked, we would observe a deviation from the expected Mendelian ratio due to the physical proximity of the genes on the same chromosome.

 

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