Step One: Build your goat!
You will be flipping a coin to determine which two genes (alleles) your goat has for six different traits. Circle your results
(no cheating!) of the flips, the genotype your goat has for the trait, and the phenotype displayed by this combination.
Traits:
-
Horns: Dominant: no horns (polled); Recessive: horns
Wattle (lobe found on the neck): Dominant: wattle; Recessive: no wattle
Hair: Dominant: long hair; Recessive: short hair
Ears: Dominant: long ears; Recessive: short ears
Behavior: Dominant: Nervous; Recessive: Docile (tame)
Markings: Dominant: Alpine; Recessive: Solid colored
1. Horns:
Coin 1: Heads
Genotype: HH Hh hh
2. Wattle:
Coin 1: Heads
Genotype: WW Ww ww
3. Hair:
Coin 1: Heads
Genotype: LL Ll ll
4. Ears:
Coin 1: Heads
Genotype: EE Ee ee
5. Behavior:
Coin 1: Heads
Genotype: BB Bb bb
6. Markings:
Coin 1: Heads
Genotype: MM Mm mm
7. Gender: (only flip one coin!)
Tails
_
_
_
_
Tails
Coin 2: Heads
Tails
Coin 2: Heads
Tails
Coin 2: Heads
Tails
Coin 2: Heads
Tails
Coin 2: Heads
Tails
Phenotype:
Tails
Phenotype:
Tails
Phenotype:
Tails
Phenotype:
Tails
Phenotype:
Tails
Phenotype:
Heads = Male
Describe your goat based on the traits you flipped for.
_
Coin 2: Heads
Tails = Female
Step Two: Draw your goat!
What is the name of your goat?
Step Three: Make improvements!
Identify three traits that you think are most valuable in your goat herd and list them below:
Trait_
Trait _
Trait _
NOTE: these can be any of the six traits; for example, if your goats are docile, this might help them to sell as pets. If your
goats have long hair, they might sell well for making fabrics.
After each trait above, state whether it is dominant or recessive.
Find a breeding goat to add to your herd! Select one of the goats from the class to use to try to improve your herd
based on the traits you find most important.


Which goat are you selecting? _______________________________________________________
What is the genotype and phenotype for these traits:
o
Horns:
o
Wattle:
o
Hair:
o
Ears:
o
Behavior:
o
Markings:
Step Four: Cross your goats!
Complete a Punnett square for each trait using the genotype of your goat and the breeding goat you selected.
What are the most common phenotypes the kid will end up with?
Did you get the three traits you wanted?