Unit II Assignment—Genetics Worksheet
 
 
Gregor Mendel’s Experiments, Theories, and Findings
 

1. Mendel observed that pea plants had traits, such as color, that were either “one or the other,” never something in between. In your own words, discuss the correlation between Mendel’s factors, what they might be, and why pea plant traits come in one form or another—e.g., gray or dark red—rather than blended.

 
Your response must be at least 75 words in length. (Type your response in the blank area below; it will expand as needed.)
 
 

2. Let’s imagine that we are studying only one trait, that of green- or yellow-colored seeds. Mendel bred his peas until they either produced seeds of one color or the other. These purebred plants he called the p generation (“p” for parental generation). He then cross bred green plants with yellow ones and discovered that all the offspring were yellow-colored. Mendel called the offspring of the purebred plants the F1 generation.

 
In your own words, explain why all the offspring in the F1 generation were yellow instead of half being yellow and half green, or some other mix of the colors. Hint: Remember that Mendel coined the terms dominant and recessive.
 
Your response must be at least 75 words in length. (Type your response in the blank area below; it will expand as needed.)
Punnett Squares
Reginald Punnett was a British geneticist who developed the Punnett square to explain how the chromosomes of parents cross and produce offspring. In order to solve genetics problems using a Punnett square, it is necessary to a) understand the associated vocabulary and b) understand some of the rules for solving the problems.
 

• Before you continue with the problems below, review the meaning of the terms allele, dominant, recessive, homozygous, heterozygous, genotype and phenotype.

• You should also review the Punnett Square Basics video linked in the unit lesson.

 
In this first problem (question #3), the key and genotype of the parents will be done for you as an example. For problems #4 and #5, you will fill in those details based on the information in the question.
Remember, when asked for the genotypic ratio, it may be expressed as 25%(GG):50%(Gg):25%(gg), for example. Or, you may write it more succinctly as 1GG:2Gg:1gg. Either way will be correct.
The phenotypic ratio will use descriptive terms, for example, 3(Green):1(clear), 2(Green):2(clear), or whatever it may be depending on the results of your cross.
3. In corn plants, the allele for green kernels (G) is dominant over clear kernels (g). Cross a homozygous dominant plant with a homozygous recessive plant.
 
Fill in the Punnett square below and give the ratios for each question beneath the Punnett Square.
 
 
 
Key: G = green kernels, g = clear kernels
Genotype of parents:   _GG_   x  _gg_
 

 
What is the genotypic ratio of the offspring in Question 3?
What is the phenotypic ratio of the offspring in Question 3?

4. Yellow seeds are dominant over green seeds in pea plants. Cross a heterozygous (yellow seeded) plant with a green seeded plant.

 
Key: __________
Genotype of parents:      __________ x __________
 

What is the genotypic ratio of the offspring in Question 4?
What is the phenotypic ratio of the offspring in Question 4?
 
 
 
 
 

5. Now cross two of the heterozygous F1 offspring from question #2.

What is the genotypic ratio of the offspring in Question 5?
What is the phenotypic ratio of the offspring in Question 5?

6. 6. Consider the resulting ratio of crossing the two heterozygous pea plants in question #5. We will use this ratio in a short activity exploring probability. Keep in mind that crossing two individuals that are heterozygous for a certain trait is similar to flipping two coins. Each coin has two sides (we might think of each side as an “allele”) and the chances of flipping heads/heads, heads/tails or tails/tails should be similar to the ratio we see when crossing two heterozygotes.
   For this simple activity, you will need two coins (pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, or a mix of any of those). Alternatively, you may google a coin-flipper simulator that will allow you to flip two coins at once. You will also need a piece of scratch paper and a pen or pencil.
   Directions: Flip the two coins simultaneously at least 50 times. For each flip of the pair of coins, you will record the results on a piece of scratch paper. You might set up a table like the one below to record your results. Once you have flipped the coins at least 50 times, enter the number of heads/heads, heads/tails and tails/tails in Table 1 below.
   Now determine the ratio for your results. You will do this by dividing the number for each result by the total number of flips, and then multiply by 100.
   (Example: If the number of heads/heads is 9 then 9/50 = .18, .18×100 = 18%), Repeat this mathematical procedure for heads/tails and tails/tails)

 
Compare the resulting ratio from the question #5 cross of two heterozygous parents to the ratio from the coin flipping exercise. Are there similarities? If so, what are they?
What might be done to make the ratio from the coin flipping exercise become more similar to the ratio from question #5? (Hint: Consider that more data equals better accuracy.)
 
 
 
Cancer Risk Factors
 

6. This question deals with cancer and risk factors. Begin by going to the website http://www.cancer.org/

 
Click “Cancer A-Z” in the upper left corner. The page that comes up will provide links to information on breast cancer, colon and rectal cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, and skin cancer. Review the information for each these cancers.
 
Next, write an essay that discusses your own risk factors for each type of cancer and steps you might take to decrease those risk factors. Be sure to address all five types of cancer.
 
You do not have to disclose any actual personal information if you do not wish to do so. You may create a fictional character and discuss his or her risk factors instead. Be sure to address all five types of cancer.
 
Your response must be at least 300 words in length. (Type your response below)
 
 
 
 
 

Over the course of this unit, we have discussed the  importance of mission   and vision statements. As a part of that discussion, we  analyzed mission and   vision statements for their effectiveness. For the Unit II  Essay, you will   expand on this topic.
Using your favorite search engine, research the mission  and vision   statements of different fortune 500 companies. Then, you will write  an essay  in  which you compare and contrast the mission statements of two  companies and  the  vision statements of two companies. You may use the same  companies for  both the  mission and vision comparisons or separate companies.
Within your essay, include the  information below.

•  Explain       the principle value of two vision statements.
• Explain       the principle value of two mission statements.
• Compare       and contrast vision statements of each organization in terms      of       composition and importance.
• Compare       and contrast mission statements of each organization in      terms of       composition and importance.
• Do   you     think organizations that have comprehensive mission      statements tend to   be     high performers? How do mission and vision      statements assist in   selecting     an industry-specific strategy?
• Explain       why a mission statement should not include monetary amounts,      numbers,       percentages, ratios, goals, or objectives.

Your essay should be a minimum of three pages in length or  approximately 750   words, not including the title and reference pages. You must  also include an   outside source from the CSU Online Library to support your  explanations.  Follow  APA standards for formatting and  referencing.

Over the course of this unit, we have discussed the  importance of mission   and vision statements. As a part of that discussion, we  analyzed mission and   vision statements for their effectiveness. For the Unit II  Essay, you will   expand on this topic.
Using your favorite search engine, research the mission  and vision   statements of different fortune 500 companies. Then, you will write  an essay  in  which you compare and contrast the mission statements of two  companies and  the  vision statements of two companies. You may use the same  companies for  both the  mission and vision comparisons or separate companies.
Within your essay, include the  information below.

•  Explain       the principle value of two vision statements.
• Explain       the principle value of two mission statements.
• Compare       and contrast vision statements of each organization in terms      of       composition and importance.
• Compare       and contrast mission statements of each organization in      terms of       composition and importance.
• Do   you     think organizations that have comprehensive mission      statements tend to   be     high performers? How do mission and vision      statements assist in   selecting     an industry-specific strategy?
• Explain       why a mission statement should not include monetary amounts,      numbers,       percentages, ratios, goals, or objectives.

Your essay should be a minimum of three pages in length or  approximately 750   words, not including the title and reference pages. You must  also include an   outside source from the CSU Online Library to support your  explanations.  Follow  APA standards for formatting and  referencing.

In the Week 1 discussion forum you had an opportunity to present a potential problem and an innovative solution specific to your role specialization. In addition, you have reviewed the literature to identify qualitative and quantitative research articles and submitted annotated bibliographies to provide evidence supporting the problem.
Considering the feedback provided to you by the faculty member it is now time to prepare your problem statement, research purpose, and research question.
First share your refined problem and proposed solution (given your review of literature this may have changed depending on the evidence you were able to provide). Next, follow the steps to help define your research question.

1. Craft the problem statement and research purpose.
2. Design your research question aimed at solving (a part of) the problem and include the following components which will focus the literature review.

PICOT Question:

Patient, Population or Problem

1. What are the characteristics of the patient or population?
2. What is the condition or disease you are interested in?

Intervention or exposure

1. What do you want to do with this patient (e.g. treat, diagnose, observe)?

Comparison

1. What is the alternative to the intervention (e.g. placebo, different drug, surgery)?

Outcome

1. What are the relevant outcomes (e.g. morbidity, death, complications)?
2. Ensure that the research question is answerable, feasible and clinically relevant

The next step in Submissions Area will be to develop a research hypothesis from the research question.