SCIENCE - GRADE 9

Name: ______________________________________ Date: ____________________

Grade: ______________________________________ Section: ___________________

Quarter: 1 Week: _4_ SSLM No. _4_ MELC(s): Explain the different patterns of
non-Mendelian inheritance (S9LT-Id-29)
 Objectives:
1. Identify characteristics or traits whose inheritance pattern does not
conform with Mendel’s laws of inheritance; and
2. Solve genetic problems related to non-Mendelian inheritance.
 Title of Textbook/LM to Study: Science 9 Learner’s Module
 Chapter: 1 Pages: 28- 42 Topic: Non-Mendelian Inheritance

Let Us Discover

In grade 8, you have learned about Mendelian inheritance which describes traits that
are passed down by dominant and recessive alleles of one gene. Alleles are different forms
of genes, which are simply parts of DNA that carry information for a certain trait.
However, many characteristics have more complex inheritance patterns than those
studied by Mendel. These traits are not determined by dominant or recessive alleles, and
they can involve more than one gene. These non-Mendelian patterns of inheritance include
incomplete dominance, codominance, multiple alleles, and sex-related traits.
Incomplete dominance occurs when one allele does not dominate the other allele.
As a result, a third phenotype is observed in the offspring. This third phenotype is a blending
of the two homozygous phenotypes. Although incomplete dominance is common in plants, it
is also observed in humans as described in the following:
1) A cross between a pure red flowered plant (RR) and a pure white flowered plant
(WW) produces one that has pink flowers (RW).

Figure 1. Incomplete dominance in four o’clock flowers

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 2) A mother with dark brown skin (BB) and a father with pale white skin (bb) may have a
child with light brown skin (Bb).

B B

b Bb Bb

b Bb Bb

Figure 2. Incomplete dominance in skin color

Codominance pattern occurs when both alleles are fully expressed at the same time
in the phenotype of the heterozygote. This is observed in animals like cows, horses and
goats having intermixed white and colored hair, referred to as roan. A cross between a red
bull (RR) and a white cow (WW) may produce a spotted or roan offspring (RW).

Figure 3. Codominance in cattle

Multiple alleles are another exception to Mendelian inheritance. Although only two
alleles control a trait, many genes do have more than two alleles that control a character.
The ABO human blood type system, for example, involves 3 alleles A, B and O. These
alleles are represented by IA, IB and i, respectively, where IA and IB are codominant and allele
i is recessive. Therefore, two O alleles must be present for a person to have type O blood.
Table 1. Human ABO blood types and their genotypes
Phenotypes (Blood
Genotypes
Types)
A IA IA IA i
B IB IB IB i
AB IA IB
O ii

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 Sex-related inheritance refers to the expression of certain traits that depends on an
individual’s sex, whether one is a male or a female. It includes sex-linked, sex-limited, and
sex-influenced traits.

Sex-linked genes are those located on the sex chromosomes. There are X-linked
genes and Y-linked genes. Color-blindness is an X-linked recessive disorder that affects the
perception of color in humans while hemophilia is also an X-linked condition in which the
blood does not clot normally so that an individual bleeds profusely from even a small wound.
Hairy ears (hypertrichosis pinnae auris) is a Y-linked disorder which only males can inherit.
Let us consider color blindness. The X chromosome with the gene for color blindness is
represented as XC while the one without is represented as X. The table below shows that for
a female to be color-blind, she must be homozygous (XCXC) for the color-blind genes. The
trait, therefore, is recessive in females. Genotype XXC represents a normal female but a
carrier of the gene which she can pass on to her offspring. Males, having only one X
chromosome, will surely be color-blind if they inherit the chromosome XC. This is the reason
why color blindness is more common in males than in females.

Table 2. Genotypes and phenotypes of color blindness in humans.

Genotype Phenotype
XX Normal female
XXC Normal female, carrier of the gene
XCXC Color-blind female
XY Normal male
XCY Color-blind male

Sex-limited traits are autosomal. They are not found on the sex chromosomes X
and Y. They are expressed exclusively in one gender or sex, like lactation in female
mammals.

Sex-influenced traits are also autosomal. They are unique because their
phenotypes are expressed differently in males and females. An example is pattern baldness
which occurs more frequently in males than in females.

Table 3. Expression of Pattern Baldness in Humans

Male Genotypes Male Phenotypes
BB male bald
Bb male bald
bb male non-bald
Female Genotypes Female Phenotypes
BB female bald
Bb female non-bald
bb female non-bald

The Punnett square which you have learned to use in grade 8 remains a useful tool
in solving genetic problems such as determining or predicting genotypes of offspring given
the genotypes of parents.

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 Let Us Try

Activity 1: Comparing Phenotypes

Compare the phenotypes arising from inheritance patterns that do not follow Mendel’s
theory. Analyze the illustration and answer the questions by encircling the correct answer/s.
red white
Parents

P X
Generation
A B C D
Offspring

F1
Generation
red white pink white & red

1. Which 2 offspring exhibit the phenotype of the parents? (A B C D)

2. Which 2 offspring do not follow Mendelian inheritance? (A B C D)
3. Which type of inheritance is exhibited by C and D? (Mendelian, Non-Mendelian)
4. Offspring C is a result of (incomplete dominance, codominance, multiple alleles).
5. Offspring D is a result of (incomplete dominance, codominance, multiple alleles).

Activity 2: Which is What?

Identify the inheritance pattern for each trait. Write your answers on the third column.
Pattern of Inheritance
No. Description of Traits (incomplete dominance,
codominance, multiple
alleles, sex-related)
1 Erminette chickens having black-white checkered feathers
2 A silver-feather offspring from a blue bird and a white bird
3 Female goats and cows producing milk
4 ABO blood type system controlled by alleles A, B and O
5 Ely’s adenium plants producing white-spotted red flowers
6 Scientists’ claim of at least 8 genes coded for eye color
7 Ryan inheriting his color blindness from his mother
8 Snapdragon plant having orange flowers from a cross
between a yellow snapdragon and a red one
9 White puppies with brown spots produced by a white
female dog crossed with a brown Labrador
10 The twin brothers having medium height unlike their father
who is very tall and the mother who is rather short

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 Let Us Do

Activity 3: Red, White and Pink

Below is a Punnett square that illustrates incomplete dominance between a red-flowered
hibiscus (gumamela) and white-flowered hibiscus.

Genotype Phenotype
RR red
WW white
RW pink

Take note that the offspring are all pink-flowered hibiscus. Neither red nor white is
dominant. The pink color is the third phenotype. It is a result of blending red and white.
Now it’s your turn to show the possible outcome of the cross between two pink
gumamela flowers using the Punnett square. Fill it in!

R W
Phenotypic Ratios of the Offspring
R

W _____% red _____% white _____% pink

Let Us Apply

Activity 4: Why, Oh Why?

Read the problem in the box and answer it briefly by applying what you have learned about
the different patterns of non-Mendelian inheritance.

Your best friend has a naturally wavy hair. Her mother has long straight hair
while her father has curly hair. How will you explain to your friend why her hair is
neither straight nor curly? Cite the specific pattern of inheritance.

Answer: __________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

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 Rubrics

The following scoring rubric will be used for Activity 4: Why, Oh Why?

SCORE DESCRIPTION
5 points Answer is straight to the point and correct inheritance pattern is cited
4 points Answer is somewhat lengthy but correct inheritance pattern is cited
3 points Inheritance pattern is not cited but justification/explanation is acceptable
2 points Inheritance pattern cited is incorrect

References

Alvarez, Liza A. et.al, 2014. Science-Grade 9 Learner’s Module, First Edition, 2014
Department of Education
Alvarez, Liza A. et.al, 2015. Science-Grade 9 Teacher’s Guide, First Edition, 2015
Department of Education
Campo, Pia C. et.al, 2013. Science-Grade 8 Learner’s Module, First Edition, 2013
Department of Education

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