In Drosophila, the X-linked recessive mutation vermilion (v) causes bright red eyes, in contrast to the brick-red eyes of wild type. A separate autosomal recessive mutation, suppressor of vermilion (su-v), causes flies homozygous or hemizygous for v to have wild-type eyes. In the absence of vermilion alleles, su-v has no effect on eye color. Determine the F₁ and F₂ phenotypic ratios from a cross between a female with wild-type alleles at the vermilion locus, but who is homozygous for su-v, with a vermilion male who has wild-type alleles at the su-v locus.
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
2. Mendel's Laws of Inheritance
Sex-Linked Genes
Problem 28b
Textbook Question
While vermilion is X-linked in Drosophila and causes the eye color to be bright red, brown is an autosomal recessive mutation that causes the eye to be brown. Flies carrying both mutations lose all pigmentation and are white-eyed. Predict the F₁ and F₂ results of the following crosses:
brown females x vermilion males

1
Step 1: Understand the genetic basis of the traits. Vermilion is an X-linked mutation, meaning it is located on the X chromosome, and it causes bright red eye color. Brown is an autosomal recessive mutation, meaning it is located on a non-sex chromosome, and it causes brown eye color. Flies carrying both mutations (vermilion and brown) lack pigmentation entirely and have white eyes.
Step 2: Determine the genotypes of the parents. Brown females are homozygous recessive for the autosomal brown mutation (bb), and vermilion males have the vermilion mutation on their single X chromosome (XᵛY). The female genotype is bbXX, and the male genotype is bbXᵛY.
Step 3: Perform the F₁ cross. The female contributes one X chromosome and one autosomal allele (b) to each offspring, while the male contributes one X chromosome (Xᵛ or X) and one Y chromosome, along with one autosomal allele (b). Use a Punnett square to determine the possible combinations of offspring genotypes.
Step 4: Analyze the F₁ generation. The F₁ offspring will inherit one X chromosome from each parent, resulting in females with genotypes XᵛX and males with genotypes XᵛY. For the autosomal brown mutation, all offspring will be heterozygous (Bb), as they inherit one recessive allele (b) from each parent. Determine the phenotypes based on these genotypes.
Step 5: Predict the F₂ generation. Cross the F₁ individuals (XᵛX females and XᵛY males) to determine the genotypes and phenotypes of the F₂ offspring. Use a Punnett square for both the X-linked vermilion mutation and the autosomal brown mutation. Consider the combinations of homozygous, heterozygous, and hemizygous genotypes to predict the phenotypic ratios in the F₂ generation.

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
X-linked Inheritance
X-linked inheritance refers to genes located on the X chromosome. In Drosophila, traits such as vermilion eye color are determined by alleles on this chromosome. Males, having one X and one Y chromosome, express X-linked traits directly, while females, with two X chromosomes, can be carriers or express the trait depending on the alleles present.
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Autosomal Recessive Inheritance
Autosomal recessive inheritance involves genes located on non-sex chromosomes (autosomes). For a trait to be expressed, an individual must inherit two copies of the recessive allele, one from each parent. In this case, the brown eye color in Drosophila is an example of such a trait, requiring both alleles to be brown for the phenotype to manifest.
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Punnett Square
A Punnett square is a diagram used to predict the genetic outcomes of a cross between two organisms. It allows for the visualization of allele combinations from each parent, helping to determine the probabilities of offspring genotypes and phenotypes. In this scenario, constructing Punnett squares for the F₁ and F₂ generations will clarify the inheritance patterns of the vermilion and brown mutations.
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