Genetics Study Guide:
1. SpongeBob SquarePants recently met SpongeSusie Roundpants at a dance. SpongeBob is heterozygous for his
square shape, but SpongeSusie is round. Create a Punnett square to show the possibilities that would result if
SpongeBob and SpongeSusie had children. (Square is dominant to round.)
A. List the possible genotypes and phenotypes for their children.
B. What are the chances of a child with a square shape? ____ out of ____ or ____%
C. What are the chances of a child with a round shape? ____ out of ____ or ____%
2. Everyone in Squidward’s family has light blue skin, which is the dominant trait for body color in his hometown of
Squid Valley. His family brags that they are a “purebred” line. He recently married a nice girl who has light green skin,
which is a recessive trait. Create a Punnett square to show the possibilities that would result if Squidward and his new
bride had children. Use B to represent the dominant gene and b to represent
the recessive gene.
A. List the possible genotypes and phenotypes for their children.
B. What are the chances of a child with light blue skin? ____%
C. What are the chances of a child with light green skin? ____%
D. Would Squidward’s children still be considered purebreds? Explain!
3. Characteristic Dominant Gene Recessive Gene
Body Shape: Squarepants (S) Roundpants (s)
Body Color:
Yellow (Y)
Blue (y)
Eye Shape:
Round (R)
Oval (r)
Nose Style:
Long (L)
Stubby (l)
Use the information for SpongeBob’s traits to write the phenotype for each item.
(a) LL-______________ (e) Rr-_______________
(b) yy-_______________ (f) ll- _______________
(c) Ss-_______________ (g) ss- _______________
(d) RR - _____________ (h) Yy -______________
4. Use the information in the chart in #1 to write the genotype (or genotypes) for each trait below.
(a) Yellow body - ___________ (e) Stubby nose - ___________
(b) Roundpants - ___________ (f) Round eyes - ____________
(c) Oval eyes - ______________ (g) Squarepants - ___________
(d) Long nose - _____________ (h) Blue body - ____________
5. Determine the genotypes for each using the information in the chart in #3.
(a) Heterozygous round eyes -_____ (c) Homozygous long nose - ______
(b) Purebred squarepants - ______ (d) Hybrid yellow body - ______
6. SpongeBob’s mother is so proud of her son and his new wife, SpongeSusie, as they are expecting a little sponge. She knows
that they have a 50% chance of having a little roundpants, but is also hoping the new arrival will be blue (a recessive trait) like
SpongeSusie and many members of her family. If SpongeBob is heterozygous for his yellow body color, what are the chances
that the baby sponge will be blue? Create a Punnett square to help you answer this question.
7. SpongeBob’s aunt is famous around town for her itty, bitty stubby nose! She recently met a cute squarepants fellow who also
has a stubby nose, which is a recessive trait. Would it be possible for them to have a child with a regular long nose? Why or why
not? Create a Punnett square to help you answer this question.
8. If SpongeBob’s aunt described in #7 wanted children with long noses, what type of fellow would she need to marry in order to
give her the best chances? Create a Punnett square to help you answer this question.
9. DNA Model
What pairs together?
What is on the outside?
Be able to write a complementary strand.
Refer to the DNA notes you took and the Directed Reading Packet Review Asexual vs. Sexual Reproduction.
ANSWERS:
1) A. SS - square
shape, Ss - square shape, and ss - round shape
B. 2 out of 4 or 50%
C. 2 out of 4 or 50%
2)A. Bb - light blue skin
B. 100%
C. 0%
D. Squidward’s children would not be considered purebred, since each would have a
gene pair made up of a dominant gene and a recessive gene.
b
B
Bb
B
Bb
Bb
Bb
b
A - long nose, B - blue body, C - squarepants, D - round eyes, E - round eyes, F - stubby nose, G roundpants, h - yellow body
3)
4) A - Yy & YY, B - ss, C - rr, D - LL & Ll, E - ll, F - RR & Rr, G - SS & Ss, H - yy
5) A - Rr, B - SS, C - LL, D – Yy
6) The Punnett square shows that they would have a 50%
chance (2 out of 4) for a little sponge with a blue body
color.
7) Since both people are recessive, the Punnett square
shows that they have 0% chance for a child with a long
nose.
8) SpongeBob’s aunt would have to marry a purebred
long nosed man (LL) in order to have the best chances
for long-nosed children.
9) A&T
C&G
Sugars and Phosphates