Module 6 Mendelian Genetics

Lesson 5—Probability

Get Focused

Working with genetics has a lot to do with predicting outcomes. Just like tossing a coin to decide who kicks the ball at a football game, there is always a certain amount of chance in genetic outcomes. Still, the players at the game know that there are only two possible outcomes, and the likelihood of either one is 50%.

By reviewing how probabilities of traits work together, and by learning the product or addition rule, you will be able to more reliably predict how a trait, or traits, should move from generation to generation.

In this lesson, you will learn how to predict the genetic outcome of future generations by examining numbers and ratios. Patterns can give the likelihood of a trait remaining hidden or being expressed.

In this lesson, the following focusing question will be examined:

• How can ratios be used to analyze types of inheritance or to predict the possibility of a trait appearing in the next generation?

This lesson will take approximately 60 minutes to complete.

Module 6: Lesson 5 Assignment

 Once you have completed all of the learning activities for this lesson, you can complete the online assignment.

Bio30 3.6.5 online assignment

The other questions and activities in this lesson are not marked by the teacher; however, you should still attempt all of the work offered here. They are designed to help you review important information and build key concepts that may be applied in future lessons.