Mendel’s Laws

In this activity we aim at studying the propagation of characters according to Mendel’s Laws. This activity focuses on probability of aleatory events, using Mendel’s inheritance studies as examples.

Material:

OZOBOTs (the activity becomes clear with two robots, but it can adapted to be made using only one)

Card with Paths: in each, the genotype of a diploid cell is divided in in the genotype of two haploid cells

Counting tables

Procedure:

The procedure is the same for each card, and it bases on running OZOBOT in it aleatory mode.

Card #1: two homozygous (only one trait), a dominant one (AA) and a recessive one (aa) -

Law of Dominance [Some alleles are dominant while others are recessive; an organism with at least one dominant allele will display the effect of the dominant allele.]

Card #2: two hybrids (only one trait)

Law of Segregation [Some alleles are dominant while others are recessive; an organism with at least one dominant allele will display the effect of the dominant allele]

Card #3: two homozygous (two traits), a dominant one (AABB) and a recessive one (aabb) -

Law of Independent Assortment [Genes of different traits can segregate independently during the formation of gametes]

Card #4: two hybrids (two traits)

Law of Independent Assortment [Genes of different traits can segregate independently during the formation of gametes]

Card #5 and #6: Test cross: verify the zygosity of individuals with dominant trait (AA or Aa)

1. Put OZOBOTs on the path corresponding to each individuals to be combined

2. Run OZOBOT by pressing once its button

3. Note the path followed by each OZOBOT

4. Note on the counting table the occurrence of each possible combine genotype

5. Calculate the frequency for each genotype and for each phenotype

Do your result correspond to your expectations according Mendel’s Laws?