Exceptions to Mendel's Laws!!

* Incomplete Dominance...
- a BLEND of the two traits
examples: a pink snapdragon (red x white) ; wavy hair (curly x straight)

* Co-Dominance...
- where BOTH are expressed 100%...not a mix (think polka-dots)!!
examples: blood type; roan cattle (spotted)

* Multiple Genes...skin color, eye color, hair texture, heighth etc.

THIS SITE is a GREAT review for all the genetics stuff we've covered (& more if you want it!)

Law of Independent Assortment

Law of Dominance & Law of Segregation

LAW OF DOMINANCE: simply means that the most dominant trait will be seen in the phenotype; always represented with a capital letter on the punnett squares

LAW OF SEGREGATION: each gamete (egg/sperm) will get only half of each allele (trait) to pass along...this law is what allows us to not look 100% like our parents or siblings- thank goodness :)
- this law is easily expressed with your punnett squares in a monohybrid cross


INTERACTIVE on heredity & traits.


Princess and the Wrinkled Peas

Gregor Mendel

Gregor Mendel is the "FATHER OF GENETICS".

He lived from 1822-1884. He was a Austrian monk who did A LOT of work with pea plants. His work was not recognized until the 20th century, long after his death. He studied how traits are passed on to the next generation. So Gregor Mendel was the first to "see" DNA in action...he just didn't really know it at the time. He knew "something" was happening, but just couldn't explain it exactly!

Know these words:
1. TRAITS
2. HEREDITY
3. GENETICS