Question

Complex genetics Imagine you are a rabbit breeder. Your rabbits are famous for their soft coats. in a new litter of rabbits, you spot an odd one that does not have any fur at all. It's very cute nonetheless. so you decide to find out if the bald coat is dominant or recessive to normal soft coats. When you cross the bald rabbit to a normal rabbit you obtain a large litter with 9 bald rabbits and 7 normal rabbits. You next male the F1 bald rabbits with each other and obtain a total of 32 bald rabbits and 15 normal rabbits. the proportions of bald and normal rabbits in the F2 do not look like a normal Mendelian ratio. This outcome suggests that the bad trait may be pleiotropic. Provide a one-sentence definition of a pleiotropy. You can use Google and write the definition verbatim if you cite the source. With respect to rabbit coats, the bald allele is Dominant or Recessive to normal coats circle the best answer in general terms, what other trait does the bald allele effect? And with regard to this second trait (i.e. your answer to C above), the bald allele functions in a Dominant or Recessive manner? circle the best answer Extra Credit, 2.5 points Discuss a trait not mentioned in class that varies continuously or is affected by the environment.

Answer 1

A) Pleiotropy can be defined as a genetic phenomenon or condition, where in a gene affects one or more unrelated phenotypes. ( I have not cited any website, this answer is in my own words )

B) In both F1 and F2 generation, number of bald rabbits is highest. So,we can conclude that the bald character is dominant in nature.

C) Since fur protects the animals from harsh environmental conditions, it can be said that, in this case, the bald allele affects viability or life span of the rabbits.

D) With regard to my answer in C, it appears that the bald allele is a lethal gene.But some lethal genes are dominant,they need not be recessive always. So, it can be said again from the number of rabbits obtained that the bald allele is dominant nature.