Coin Sex Lab Analysis

In this lab, we asked the question of "how is probability used to predict what our offspring will be?" We flipped coins marked with different alleles of genes to simulate Mendel's laws of segregation and assortment and model dihybrid crosses, x -linked inheritance, autosomal dominance crosses, and the sex of offspring. Coins served as a good model for genes because there was a 50% chance of getting either gene, which showed the two laws and used probability to find actual ample sized results. During meiosis, the chromosomes split, which is represented by the flipping of the coin, showing the random probability of having either allele. Through recombination, the genes are combined and we can find the genotype and phenotype of an organism. This results in many pairings, some homozygous and some heterozygous. The phenotypic ratio for dihybrid double heterozygous crosses is 1:3:3:9, with 9 being the phenotype both dominant, the 3's as 1 recessive and 1 dominant, and the 1 being both recessive. Our actual results through the flipping of coins garnered the result of 3:1:2:10. The differences in the results of the data is due to the representation of the Law of Independent Assortment and the random probability of getting any phenotype, though some have higher chances due to dominant and recessive alleles. The limit of probability comes from the randomness of gene separation and the ability for genes to mutate and cross with each other, which creates new, unaccounted alleles. These changes cannot be predicted by punnet squares and probability. This understanding of the probability of crosses can help predict what genes and traits my children will have in the future and what unknown traits I may have right now,