Name____________________________ Prd____ Date__________________
Real World Genetics: The Spirit Bear
Please click the bear to be taken to a website to read and find the answers.
1. What actual species is the “Spirit Bear” or Kermode Bear?
2. What is the genetic condition of the Spirit Bear called? Define it.
3. What is the scientific name of the Spirit Bear?
4. Is this condition a result of a mutated gene?
5. Is the Spirit Bear considered an albino, WHY or WHY NOT, explain
albinism?
6. Is the gene to produce a Spirit Bear RECESSIVE or DOMINANT?
7. Does the Spirit Bear get its color from the mother, the father, or
both parents, explain?
8. Why are Spirit Bears so successful at hunting and catching salmon?
9. How did researchers gather data about the bears?
10. Which phenotype is dominant black fur or white fur(you do not need a
website for this answer)?
11. The polymorphism trait known as Kermodism, that gives the bear it’s
white color, is representative of a genotypic or phenotypic
characteristic (you do not need a website to answer this question)?
12. Is the Spirit Bear a hybrid, meaning that perhaps a black bear mated
with a polar bear?
13. What general protein is responsible for Kermodism (Hint: remember
that proteins can end in “an” or “in”)?
14. There are 6 possible Punnett Squares for determining offspring for
black bears that include producing Spirit Bear offspring. On the next
worksheet show all 6 possible Punnett Squares including genotype and
phenotype percentages.