Probability and Genetic Ratios

Problem: To what extent do the results of coin tossing compare to expected genetic outcomes?

Research: Define the following terms:

Alleles-

Genotype-

Phenotype-

Homozygous-

Heterozygous-

Hybrid-

Human eye color for brown and blue eyes is controlled by one set of alleles. Please complete the following table according to your instructor's direction:

Genotypes for Eye Color
Phenotypes for Eye Color

In this simulation using coins you are going join a lab partner to become a hypothetical couple having children. You are going to have brown eyes but be heterozygous (Bb x Bb). Let "heads" = B and "tails" = b. Use a Punnett square to predict the genotypic and phenotypic ratios for groups and the class. You will toss your coins 100 times and keep track of the results in the following table:

	BB	Bb	bb	predicted genotypic ratio	predicted phenotypic ratio	actual genotypic ratio results	actual phenotypic ratio results
Group Results
Class Results

Calculated % difference for your Group Results: ((predicted Bb - actual Bb)/predicted Bb) * 100 = _________%

Calculated % difference for your Class Results: ((predicted Bb - actual Bb)/predicted Bb) * 100 = _________%

Discussion Questions:

1) Were the actual genotypic and phenotypic ratios for your group close to the predicted ratios? Explain.

2) Were the actual genotypic and phenotypic ratios for the class close to the predicted ratios? Explain.

3) Which was closer to expected, the group or the class?

4) How are coin tossing and gamete production similar?