REVISION QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS

1. Distinguish between epistasis and dominance. What does gene interaction mean?
2. Write short note on the following:
(i) Epistasis and hypostasis; (ii) Complementary genes; (iii) Supplementary genes; (iv)
Inhibitors; (v) Mutually supplementary genes; (vi) Atavism; (vii) Pleiotropic genes; (viii)
Expressivity; (ix) Penetrance.
3. What are the lethal genes? Describe lethal genes by considering one example from each
of the followingplants, animals and humans.
4. Four comb shapes namely rose, pea, walnut and single in poultry are known to be
governed by two gene loci. The genotype RP produces walnut comb, characteristic of
the Malay breed; Rpp produces rose comb, characteristic of the Wyandotte breed; rrP
produces pea comb, characteristic of the Brahma breed; rrpp produces single comb,
characteristic of the Leghorn breed. (a) If pure Wyandottes are crossed with pure
Brahmas what phenotypic ratios are expected in the F1 and F2? (b) A Malay hen was
crossed with a Leghorn cock and produced a dozen eggs, 3 of which grew into rose comb
birds and 9 with walnut combs. What is the probable genotype of hen? (c) Determine the
proportion of comb types that would be expected in offspring from each of the following
crosses: (1) Rrpp RrPP; (2) rrPp RrPp; (3) rrPP RRPp; (4) RrPp rrpp; (5) RrPp
RRpp; (6) RRpp rrpp; (7) RRPP rrpp; (8) Rrpp Rrpp; (9) rrPp Rrpp; (10) rrPp
rrpp.
5. Listed below are 7 two-factor interaction ratios observed in progeny from various
dihybrid parents. Suppose that in each of these cases one of the dihybrid parents is
testcrossed (instead of being mated to another dihybrid individual). What phenotypic
ratio is expected in the progeny of each testcrosses? (1) 9 : 6 : 1; (2) 9 : 3 : 4; (3) 9 : 7; (4)
12 : 3 : 1; (5) 9 : 3 : 3 : 1; (6) 13 : 3.
6. Red colour in wheat kernel is produced by the genotype RB, white by the double
recessive genotype (rrbb). The genotypes Rbb and rrB produce brown kernels. A
homozygous red variety is crossed to a white variety. What phenotypic results are
expected in the F1 and F2?
7. In mice, a dominant allele C must be present in order for any pigment to be developed in
the coat. The kind of pigment produced depends upon another locus, thus, B produces
black and bb produces brown. Individuals of epistatic genotype, cc, are incapable of
pigment production and are called albinos. A homozygous black female is testcrossed to
an albino male. (a) What phenotypic ratio is expected in the F1 and F2? (b) If all the F2
albino mice are allowed to mate at random, what genotypic ratio is expected in the
progeny?
8. An inhibitor of pigment production in onion bulbs (I) shows dominant epistasis over
another locus, the genotype iiR producing red bulbs and iirr producing yellow bulbs. (a)
When a pure white strain is crossed to a pure red strain and produces an all white F 1 and
an F2 with 12/16 white, 3/16 red and 1/16 yellow. What were the genotypes of the
parents? (b) If yellow onions are crossed to a pure white strain of a genotype different
from the parental type in part (a), what phenotypic ratio is expected in the F1 and F2
generations?
9. In Drosophila, a dominant gene (D) for a phenotype called dichaete alters the bristles
and also makes the wings to remain extended from the body while the fly is at rest. It is
homozygous lethal (i.e., DD). (a) Diagram a cross between two dichaete (Dd) flies and
summarize the expected results. (b) Diagram a cross between dichaete and wild type and
summarize the expected results.