Genetics · Module 4 · Linkage and genetic mapping

Linkage and Mapping Lab

Run a three point testcross and watch each crossover happen at the four strand stage, then work up your own data; drill mapping problems with a hint ladder and animated solutions; sort terms and testcross classes; and map genes in families, corn, fungi and crops. Nothing here is graded.

Part 1: Three Point Testcross Bench

Testcross results
Offspring class (v cv ct)ObservedExpected

Simplified model for learning. The female (heterozygous for vermilion eyes v, crossveinless wings cv and cut wings ct) is testcrossed with a v cv ct / v cv ct male; fly males do not cross over. In each of her meioses, a chiasma forms in a region with probability 2 × (distance ÷ 100), at most one per region, between a random pair of non-sister chromatids, and one of the four chromatids becomes the egg. Interference lowers the chance of a chiasma in both regions to (1 − I) times the independent value. Distances are limited to 25 cM per region so this simple model stays valid. Timing is sped up.

Worksheet: analyze your own data

Run a testcross first. Then classify each offspring class, find the middle gene, and compute the distances, the coefficient of coincidence and interference from your counts. Distances to one decimal place in cM; CoC and I to two decimal places.

Classify each offspring class
ClassCountYour classification