How do we know that sister chromatids undergo recombination during mitosis?
Table of contents
- 1. Introduction to Genetics51m
- 2. Mendel's Laws of Inheritance3h 37m
- 3. Extensions to Mendelian Inheritance2h 41m
- 4. Genetic Mapping and Linkage2h 28m
- 5. Genetics of Bacteria and Viruses1h 21m
- 6. Chromosomal Variation1h 48m
- 7. DNA and Chromosome Structure56m
- 8. DNA Replication1h 10m
- 9. Mitosis and Meiosis1h 34m
- 10. Transcription1h 0m
- 11. Translation58m
- 12. Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes1h 19m
- 13. Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes44m
- 14. Genetic Control of Development44m
- 15. Genomes and Genomics1h 50m
- 16. Transposable Elements47m
- 17. Mutation, Repair, and Recombination1h 6m
- 18. Molecular Genetic Tools19m
- 19. Cancer Genetics29m
- 20. Quantitative Genetics1h 26m
- 21. Population Genetics50m
- 22. Evolutionary Genetics29m
4. Genetic Mapping and Linkage
Mapping Overview
Problem 2a
Textbook Question
In a diploid species of plant, the genes for plant height and fruit shape are syntenic and separated by 18 m.u. Allele D produces tall plants and is dominant to d for short plants, and allele R produces round fruit and is dominant to r for oval fruit.
A plant with the genotype DR/dr produces gametes. Identify gamete genotypes, label parental and recombinant gametes, and give the frequency of each gamete genotype.

1
Understand the genetic setup: The plant is diploid with the genotype DR/dr, meaning it is heterozygous for both traits (plant height and fruit shape). The genes are syntenic (on the same chromosome) and separated by 18 map units (m.u.), which indicates a recombination frequency of 18% (0.18).
Determine the possible gamete genotypes: Since the plant is heterozygous (DR/dr), the possible gametes are DR, dr, Dr, and dR. DR and dr are the parental gametes because they retain the original arrangement of alleles on the chromosomes. Dr and dR are the recombinant gametes because they result from crossing over between the two genes.
Assign frequencies to the gametes: The recombination frequency of 18% means that 18% of the gametes will be recombinant (Dr and dR combined). Since recombination produces equal numbers of the two recombinant gametes, each recombinant gamete (Dr and dR) will have a frequency of 9% (0.09).
Calculate the frequency of parental gametes: The remaining 82% of the gametes will be parental (DR and dr combined). Since parental gametes are also produced in equal numbers, each parental gamete (DR and dr) will have a frequency of 41% (0.41).
Summarize the results: The gamete genotypes are DR (parental, 41%), dr (parental, 41%), Dr (recombinant, 9%), and dR (recombinant, 9%). These frequencies reflect the genetic linkage and recombination between the two syntenic genes.

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Synteny
Synteny refers to the conservation of gene order on chromosomes between different species or within the same species. In this context, it indicates that the genes for plant height and fruit shape are located on the same chromosome and are inherited together, which is crucial for understanding how these traits are passed on to the offspring.
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Gamete Formation and Genotype
Gamete formation involves the process of meiosis, where diploid cells divide to produce haploid gametes. The genotype of the parent plant (DR/dr) will determine the combinations of alleles in the gametes. Understanding how alleles segregate during gamete formation is essential for predicting the genotypes of the resulting gametes.
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Recombinant and Parental Gametes
Parental gametes are those that carry the same allele combinations as the parents, while recombinant gametes result from crossing over during meiosis, leading to new allele combinations. Identifying these types of gametes is important for calculating their frequencies and understanding genetic variation in the offspring.
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