© 2014 University of Utah
Pigeon Genetics
Student Worksheet
Pigeon Genetics - Student Worksheet 1
Learn.Genetics.utah.edu
GENETIC SCIENCE LEARNING CENTER
Probability of offspring having a crest:
Using Math: Possible ‘crest’ alleles from father
x possible ‘crest’ alleles from mother
2
X
2
Answer the following. Use information from Pigeon Breeding: Genetics at Work on the
Learn.Genetics website to learn more about each inherited characteristic.
Crest
The crest characteristic in pigeons has two alleles: ‘crest’ and ‘no crest’. ‘crest’ is
recessive. Calculate the probability of the offspring of two heterozygous parents having a
crest.
Using a Punnett Square:
Name:
Date:
=
© 2014 University of Utah
Pigeon Genetics - Student Worksheet 2
Learn.Genetics.utah.edu
GENETIC SCIENCE LEARNING CENTER
Crest
Explain how the following work together to give a pigeon a crest using the following words:
‘crest’ alleles, protein (for a bonus include: nucleotide and amino acid sequence):
Name:
Date:
Foot Feathering
The Slipper characteristic is partially dominant, meaning what we see is the product of
both alleles that are inherited.
The ‘No Grouse’ characteristic is dominant.
What is the genotype of the foot feathering seen here?
Draw the foot feathering you’d see on a pigeon with the ‘slipper’, ‘no slipper’ and
‘grouse’, ‘no grouse’ genotype.
© 2014 University of Utah
Pigeon Genetics - Student Worksheet 3
Learn.Genetics.utah.edu
GENETIC SCIENCE LEARNING CENTER
Wing Pattern
Wing pattern is determined by four alleles that follow a hierarchy of dominance.
Wing Pattern
Draw the correct phenotype for each genotype below.
More dominant
The Pattern gene
comes in 4 versions:
T-check’ allele
‘Check’ allele
‘Bar allele
‘Barless’ allele
Genotype Phenotype Genotype Phenotype
Name:
Date:
© 2014 University of Utah
Pigeon Genetics - Student Worksheet 4
Learn.Genetics.utah.edu
GENETIC SCIENCE LEARNING CENTER
Color
Color is determined mainly by one gene on the sex chromosome Z. This is known as
‘sex-linked.”
In addition, Color alleles have a hierarchy of dominance. In order of most to least
dominant they are: ‘ash red,’ ‘blue,’ ‘brown’
Color
Calculate the probability of female offspring of the following cross NOT being red. Use a
Punnett square or math.
Genotype Phenotype
Ash-red
Genotype Phenotype
Ash-red
Color gene
comes in 3 versions:
Ash-red’ allele
‘Blue allele
‘Brown allele
chromosome
chromosome:
No color gene
W
Z
Male — Female —
W
Z Z Z
More dominant
Name:
Date:
© 2014 University of Utah
Learn.Genetics.utah.edu
GENETIC SCIENCE LEARNING CENTER
Pigeon Genetics - Student Worksheet 5
Spread
Pigment distribution is determined by the Spread
gene, the ‘spread’ allele being dominant to ‘no
spread’. The ‘spread’ allele masks underlying
wing pattern, which is known as epistasis.
Circle the parental genotypes that could possibly
produce the offspring shown:
Possible parental genotypes:
Name:
Date: