Download Alien Alleles Objective: Predict the phenotype of offspring based on

Alien Alleles
Objective: Predict the phenotype of offspring based on the genotype of inherited alleles.
Background: An allele is a location on a gene that codes for a particular trait. Each person (or alien) receives one allele
from the mother and one allele from the father. Dominant alleles are always expressed, meaning that the trait shows
up in the outward appearance if one of the dominant alleles is present in the genotype. Recessive alleles are shy, and
only show up in the outward appearance when there are two recessive alleles. In co-dominance or incomplete
dominance, there is a blending of traits in the outward appearance.
Instructions: You will be creating an alien and drawing the phenotype (outward appearance) based on the genotype
(DNA) that will be picked at random. Your alien has only one chromosome pair with 6 alleles on it. You will need to
draw the outward appearance of the alien based on the genetic code. You will need one coil and colored pencils.
Step 1- Flip a coin two times. Heads count as Dominant (E) tails count as recessive (e) Draw eyes on your alien
according to the genotype you flipped. (2 pts)
EE = five eyes
Ee = four eyes
ee = three eyes
Step 2 – Flip a coin two times. Heads count as Dominant (A) tails count as recessive (a) Draw antennae on your alien
according to the genotype you flipped. (2 pts)
AA = 2 antennae
Aa = 2 antennae
aa= no antennae
Step 3 – Flip a coin two times. Heads count as Dominant (R) tails count as recessive (r) Draw ears on your alien
according to the genotype you flipped. (2 pts)
RR = Elephant-type ears
Rr= Rabbit-type ears
rr= Cat-type ears
Step 4- Flip a coin two times. Heads count as Dominant (N) tails count as recessive (n) Draw nostrils on your alien
according to the genotype you flipped. (2 pts)
NN = 4 nostrils
Nn = 4 nostrils
nn = 2 nostrils
Step 5- Flip a coin two times. Heads count as Dominant (M) tails count as recessive (m) Draw the mouth on your alien
according to the genotype you flipped. (2 pts)
MM = open mouth, big teeth
Mm= open mouth, big teeth
mm=vampire fangs
Step 6- Flip a coin four times. Heads count as Dominant (T) tails count as recessive (t) Draw the skin color on your alien
according to the genotype you flipped. (2 pts)
TTTT = Blue
TTTt = purple
TTtt = red
Tttt = orange
tttt= green
Step 5 – Color your alien (2 pts)
Analysis questions
1- Does your alien look exactly like anyone else’s alien? Explain with a complete sentence. (2 pts)
2-This alien had only 6 alleles total. Humans have several thousand alleles. Do you think it is possible for two unrelated
humans to look exactly like each other? Explain your reasoning with a complete sentence. (2 pts)
3- Define these words:
Dominant allele
Recessive allele
Co-dominant allele
Genotype
Phenotype
4- Which of the alien’s alleles were co-dominant?