Introduction to Genetics- Mendel Notes

Who started genetics? What did he do/discover?

o Gregor Mendel- the “father o He studied the 7 inherited

of genetics” traits of pea plants for over 7
years.

When did this take place? 1822-1884 (a 7 year

study)

Where did this take place? Austria. He was a

monk (taught at a monastery and taking care of the
garden was his job)

How did he make these discoveries?

1. Mendel first self-pollinated his pea plants to

produce pure plants (so no pollen was exchanged
between plants).
Ex: All tall or all short Why did he choose to
work with peas?
2. Mendel then cross-pollinated tall pea plants
with short pea plants. This cross was called the Pea plants are ideal
Parental Generation or P1. because:
3. The seeds produced by the P1 generation were 1. They reproduce
all tall. These seeds were known as the First sexually.
Filial or F1 generation. He then cross-pollinated
this generation. 2. Male and female sex
cells are on the same
4. The seeds produced by the F1 generations are flower (so they can self
called F2. He found that the F2 generation had a pollinate).
ratio of 3:1 tall to short plants.
3. Have 7 traits with 2
distinct forms.
P1 F1 F2
 Mendel’s Conclusions

In total Mendel studied 7 traits (characteristics) from the pea plants and all
his results were the same. This allowed him to recognize certain patterns and
develop principles. Alleles
Traits
1. A gene is what controls a trait and the
alleles are the forms that the trait can
take.
Human Example: Gene = controls for
number of fingers on each hand
Alleles = 5 fingers or 6 fingers!

2. Principle of Dominance- One allele can

mask (hide) another allele.
a. Dominant trait- the allele that
masks the effects of other alleles
- Represented by a capital letter,
usually from the first word of the
dominant allele’s description.
- Ex: Tall Plant = T

b. Recessive Trait- the gene that is masked by another allele

- Represented by a lowercase letter, usually from the first word of
dominant allele’s description
- Ex: Short Plant = t

3. Law of Segregation- The parent’s alleles for a trait would separate

during the formation of egg and sperm (or their gametes). Each parent
donates an allele to the offspring.

4. Law of Independent Assortment- The genes for one trait do not affect
the inheritance of genes for another trait.
Ex: Height will not change seed color