Dihybrid Crosses and Gene Linkage
10.2.1 Calculate and predict the genotypic and phenotypic ratio of offspring of dihybrid
crosses involving unlinked autosomal genes
A dihybrid cross determines the allele combinations of offspring for two particular genes
that are unlinked (not on the same chromosome)
Because there are two genes with two alleles per gene (multiple alleles not required),
there can be up to four different gamete combinations
To work out gamete combinations remember FOIL:
• First (AaBb = AB)
aB)
• Outside (AaBb = Ab)
• Inside (AaBb =
• Last (AaBb = ab)
When calculating genotype, always pair alleles from the same gene (e.g. ABab should
be AaBb) and always write capitals first
Calculating genotypic and phenotypic ratios from a dihybrid cross
10.2.2 Distinguish between autosomes and sex chromosomes
Autosomes: Pairs of chromosomes that are identical in appearance (e.g. same size,
same gene loci, etc.) and are not involved in sex determination
Sex chromosomes: Pairs of chromosomes involved in sex determination and are not
identical in appearance (e.g. X and Y chromosome in humans)
10.2.3 Explain how crossing over between non-sister chromatids of a homologous pair
in prophase I can result in the exchange of alleles
 During
crossing over in prophase I, non-sister chromatids of a homologous pair
may break and reform at points of attachment called chiasmata
 As these chromatids break at the same point, any gene loci below the point of
the break will be exchanged as a result of recombination
 This means that maternal and paternal alleles may be exchanged between the
maternal and paternal chromosomes, creating new gene combinations
 The further apart two gene loci are on a chromosome, the more likely they are to
be exchanged
The Formation of Recombinant Chromosomes via Crossing Over
10.2.4 Define linkage group
A
linkage group is a group of genes whose loci are on the same chromosome
and therefore do not follow the law of independent assortment
 Linked genes will tend to be inherited together - the only way to separate them is
through recombination (via crossing over during synapsis)
10.2.5 Explain an example of a cross between two linked genes
 When
two genes are linked, they do not follow the expected phenotypic ratio for
a dihybrid cross between heterozygous parents
 Instead the phenotypic ratio will follow that of a monohybrid cross as the two
genes are inherited together
 This means that offspring will tend to produce the parental phenotypes
 Recombinant phenotypes will only be evident if crossing over occurs in prophase
I and would thus be expected to appear in low numbers (if at all)
 An example of a cross between two linked genes is the mating of a grey bodied,
normal wing fruit fly with a black bodied, vestigial wing mutant
Example of a Cross between Two Linked Genes
10.2.6 Identify which of the offspring are recombinants in a dihybrid cross involving
linked genes
Recombinants of linked genes are those combinations of genes not found in parents
For example, in a test cross of a heterozygous fruit fly (grey bodied, normal wings) with
a homozygous recessive mutant (black bodied, vestigial wings), the recombinants
would be the grey bodied, vestigial winged offsprings and the black bodied, normal
winged offspring
Linked genes that have undergone recombination can be distinguished from unlinked
genes via a test cross because the frequency of the recombinant genotypes will always
be less than would occur for unlinked genes (crossing over does not happen every time)
 For
example:
 Heterozygous test cross of unlinked genes = 1 : 1 : 1 : 1 phenotypic ratio
 Heterozygous test cross of linked genes = 1 : 1 : 0.1 : 01 phenotypic ratio
(uncommon phenotypes are recombinants)