Virtual Lab: Sex-Linked Traits
Worksheet
Please make sure you have read through all of the information in the “Questions” and “Information” areas. If you come upon terms that are unfamiliar to you, please refer to your textbook for further explanation or search the word here: http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/dictionaryhome.aspx
Next, complete the Punnett square activity by clicking on the laboratory notebook. Please be sure to note the possible genotypes of the various flies:
Female, red eyes
Female, red eyes
Female, white eyes
Male, red eyes
Male, white eyes
XRXR
XrXR
XrXr
XRY
XrY
When you have completed the Punnett square activity, return to the laboratory scene to begin the actual laboratory activity.
In this exercise, you will perform a Drosophila mating in order to observe sex-linked trait transmission. Please click on the shelf in the laboratory. Here you will find vials of fruit flies. On the TOP shelf, please click on one of the female vials (on the left side) and then drag it to the empty vial on the shelf below. Please repeat this step using one of the male vials (on the right side). These flies will be used as the parental (P) generation. You may switch your parent choices at any time by dragging out old selections and dragging in new flies. Use the Punnett square below to predict the genotypes/phenotypes of the offspring (Note: refer to the genotype table you created above if needed):
XR
XR
XR
Genotype: XRXR
Phenotype:Red eye, female
Genotype:XRXR
Phenotype: Red eye, female
Y
Genotype:XRY
Phenotype: Red eye, male
Genotype:XRY
Phenotype: Red eye, male
__50_% Female, red eye _0__% Female, white eye _50__% Male, red eye _0__% Male, white eye
When you are finished, click “Mate and Sort”.
You will now see information appear in the vials sitting on the next shelf below. These are the offspring of the parent flies you selected above, and they represent the first filial (F1) generation. In your “Data Table” on the bottom of the page and/or on Table I found at the end of this Worksheet, please input the numbers of each sex and phenotype combination for the F1 generation. These numbers will be placed into the first row marked “P generation Cross”.
You will next need to select one of the F1 female flies and one of the F1 male flies to create the second filial (F2) generation. Drag your selections down to the empty vial on the next shelf below and fill in the Punnett square below to predict the offspring:
XR
XR
XR
Genotype: XRXR
Phenotype:Red eye, female
Genotype:XRXR
Phenotype: Red eye, female
Y
Genotype:XRY
Phenotype: Red eye, male
Genotype:XRY
Phenotype: Red eye, male
__50_% Female, red eye _0__% Female, white eye _50__% Male, red eye _0__% Male, white eye
After clicking “Mate and Sort”, you will now have information on their offspring (the F2 generation) to input into your “Data Table” or Worksheet below. This information will be placed into the second row marked “F1 generation Cross”.
NOTE: there are additional lines remaining to use if your instructor requires the analysis of additional crosses.
Please finish this exercise by opening the “Journal” link at the bottom of the page and answering the questions.