Predicting Inheritance: Identifying Linkage (OCR A Level Biology)

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Autosomal Linkage & Sex Linkage

Autosomal linkage

  • Dihybrid crosses and their predictions rely on the assumption that the genes being investigated behave independently of one another during meiosis
  • However, not all genes assort independently during meiosis
  • Some genes which are located on the same chromosome display autosomal linkage and stay together in the original parental combination
  • Linkage between genes affects how parental alleles are passed onto offspring through the gametes
  • When writing linked genotypes it can be easier to keep the linked alleles within a bracket
    • For example, an individual has the genotype FFGG. However, if there is linkage between the two genes, it would be written as (FG)(FG)

Identifying autosomal linkage from phenotypic ratios

  • In the following theoretical example, a dihybrid cross is used to predict the inheritance of two different characteristics in a species of newt
    • The genes are for tail length and scale colour

  • The gene for tail length has two alleles:
    • Dominant allele T produces a normal length tail
    • Recessive allele t produces a shorter length tail

  • The gene for scale colour has two alleles:
    • Dominant allele G produces green scales
    • Recessive allele g produces white scales

  • A newt heterozygous for a normal tail and green scales is crossed with a newt that has a shorter tail and white scales

Parental phenotypes: normal tail, green scales x short tail, white scales

Parental genotypes:                  TtGg x ttgg

Parental gametes:           TG or Tg   or       tG or tg

Without linkage

  • The outcomes for this dihybrid cross if the genes are unlinked are as follows

Dihybrid cross unlinked genes, downloadable AS Level & A Level Biology revision notes

Predicted ratio of phenotypes in offspring = 1 normal tail, green scales : 1 normal tail, white scales : 1 short tail, green scales : 1 short tail, white scales

Predicted ratio of genotypes in offspring = 1 TtGg : 1 Ttgg : 1 ttGg : 1 ttgg

With linkage

  • However, if the same dihybrid cross is carried out but this time the genes are linked, we get a different phenotypic ratio
    • There would be a 1 : 1 phenotypic ratio (1 normal tail, green scales : 1 short tail, white scales)
    • This change in the phenotypic ratio occurs because the genes are located on the same chromosome
    • The unexpected phenotypic ratio, therefore, shows us that the genes are linked

  • The explanation for this new phenotypic ratio is given in the worked example below:

Worked example

Worked example: Explaining autosomal linkage

  • In reality, the genes for tail length and scale colour in this particular species of newt show autosomal linkage

Parental phenotypes: normal tail, green scales x short tail, white scales

Parental genotypes:       (TG)(tg)             (tg)(tg)

Parental gametes:       (TG) or (tg)              (tg)

Dihybrid Cross with Linkage Punnett Square Table

Dihybrid Cross with Linkage Punnett Square table, downloadable AS & A Level Biology revision notes

Predicted ratio of genotypes in offspring = 1 (TG)(tg) : 1 (tg)(tg)

Predicted ratio of phenotypes in offspring = 1 normal tail, green scales : 1 short tail, white scales

Sex linkage

  • Sex-linked genes are only present on one sex chromosome and not the other
  • This means the sex of an individual affects what alleles they pass on to their offspring through their gametes
  • The presence of sex linkage can be identified using pedigree diagrams and Punnett squares
    • When a gene is sex-linked the phenotypes are not spread evenly across the sexes
    • In the case of a gene that causes a sex-linked disease, one sex will be  disproportionately affected

  • If the gene is on the X chromosome males (XY) will only have one copy of the gene, whereas females (XX) will have two
  • Because males only have one X chromosome, they are much more likely to show sex-linked recessive conditions (such as red-green colour blindness and haemophilia)
  • Females, having two copies of the X chromosome, are likely to inherit one dominant allele that masks the effect of the recessive allele
  • A female with one recessive allele masked in this way is known as a carrier; she doesn’t have the disease, but she has a 50% chance of passing it on to her offspring
  • If that offspring is a male, he will have the disease
  • For sex-linked genes that occur on the X chromosome, there are three phenotypes for females: 'normal', 'carrier' and 'has the disease', whereas males have only two phenotypes: 'normal' or 'has the disease'
  • The results of a cross between a normal male and a female who is a carrier for colourblindness is as follows:

X-linked genetic cross, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notesPunnett square showing the inheritance of colourblindness, an X-linked condition

  • In the cross above, there is a 25% chance of producing a male who is colourblind, a 25% chance of producing a female carrier, a 25% chance of producing a normal female and a 25% chance of producing a normal male
  • Males are more likely to be affected by the condition

Worked example

Worked example: Sex-linkage

  • Haemophilia is a well known sex-linked disease
  • There is a gene found on the X chromosome that codes for a protein called factor VIII. Factor VIII is needed to make blood clot
  • There are two alleles for factor VIII, the dominant F allele which codes for normal factor VIII and the recessive f allele which results in a lack of factor VIII
  • When a person possesses only the recessive allele f, they don’t produce factor VIII and their blood can't clot normally
  • The genetic diagram below shows how two parents with normal factor VIII can have offspring with haemophilia

Parental phenotypes: carrier female x normal male

Parental genotypes:      XFXf                              XFY

Parental gametes:      XF or Xf                        XF or Y

Monohybrid Cross with Sex-linkage Punnett Square Table

Monohybrid Crosses_1, downloadable AS & A Level Biology revision notes

Predicted ratio of phenotypes in offspring = 1 female with normal blood clotting : 1 carrier female : 1 male with haemophilia : 1 male with normal blood clotting

Predicted ratio of genotypes in offspring = 1 XFXF : 1 XFXf : 1 XFY : 1 XfY

Examiner Tip

When you are working through different genetics questions you may notice that test crosses involving autosomal linkage predict solely parental type offspring (offspring that have the same combination of characteristics as their parents).However in reality recombinant offspring (offspring that have a different combination of characteristics to their parents) are often produced.  This is due to the crossing over that occurs during meiosis. The crossing over and exchanging of genetic material breaks the linkage between the genes and recombines the characteristics of the parents.So if a question comes along that asks you why recombinant offspring are present you now know why!

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Alistair

Author: Alistair

Expertise: Biology & Environmental Systems and Societies

Alistair graduated from Oxford University with a degree in Biological Sciences. He has taught GCSE/IGCSE Biology, as well as Biology and Environmental Systems & Societies for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. While teaching in Oxford, Alistair completed his MA Education as Head of Department for Environmental Systems & Societies. Alistair has continued to pursue his interests in ecology and environmental science, recently gaining an MSc in Wildlife Biology & Conservation with Edinburgh Napier University.