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Ch. 17 - Organelle Inheritance and the Evolution of Organelle Genomes
Sanders - Genetic Analysis: An Integrated Approach 3rd Edition
Sanders3rd EditionGenetic Analysis: An Integrated ApproachISBN: 9780135564172Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 17, Problem 13

You have isolated (1) a streptomycin-resistant mutant (strᴿ) of Chlamydomonas that maps to the chloroplast genome and (2) a hygromycin-resistant mutant (hygᴿ) of Chlamydomonas that maps to the mitochondrial genome. What types of progeny do you expect from the following reciprocal crosses?


mt⁺ strᴿ hygˢ× mt⁻ strˢ hygᴿ
mt⁺ strˢ hygᴿ× mt⁻ strᴿ hygSˢ

Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the genetic basis of the problem: Streptomycin resistance (strᴿ) is encoded in the chloroplast genome, while hygromycin resistance (hygᴿ) is encoded in the mitochondrial genome. Chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes are inherited uniparentally in Chlamydomonas, with the chloroplast genome inherited from the mt⁺ parent and the mitochondrial genome inherited from the mt⁻ parent.
Analyze the first cross: mt⁺ strᴿ hygˢ × mt⁻ strˢ hygᴿ. Since the chloroplast genome is inherited from the mt⁺ parent, the progeny will inherit the strᴿ allele. The mitochondrial genome is inherited from the mt⁻ parent, so the progeny will inherit the hygᴿ allele.
Predict the progeny phenotype for the first cross: All progeny will be streptomycin-resistant (strᴿ) due to the chloroplast inheritance from the mt⁺ parent and hygromycin-resistant (hygᴿ) due to the mitochondrial inheritance from the mt⁻ parent.
Analyze the second cross: mt⁺ strˢ hygᴿ × mt⁻ strᴿ hygˢ. In this case, the chloroplast genome is inherited from the mt⁺ parent, so the progeny will inherit the strˢ allele. The mitochondrial genome is inherited from the mt⁻ parent, so the progeny will inherit the hygˢ allele.
Predict the progeny phenotype for the second cross: All progeny will be streptomycin-sensitive (strˢ) due to the chloroplast inheritance from the mt⁺ parent and hygromycin-sensitive (hygˢ) due to the mitochondrial inheritance from the mt⁻ parent.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Chloroplast and Mitochondrial Genetics

Chloroplasts and mitochondria are organelles with their own genomes, which are inherited maternally in many organisms. In Chlamydomonas, mutations in these genomes can lead to resistance to specific antibiotics, such as streptomycin and hygromycin. Understanding how these organelles contribute to inheritance patterns is crucial for predicting progeny outcomes in genetic crosses.
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Reciprocal Crosses

Reciprocal crosses involve mating two different strains in both possible combinations to assess the inheritance of traits. This method helps determine whether traits are linked to specific parental genotypes and can reveal the effects of maternal versus paternal contributions to progeny. Analyzing the results of these crosses is essential for understanding the genetic basis of the observed traits.
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Antibiotic Resistance Mechanisms

Antibiotic resistance in organisms like Chlamydomonas can arise from mutations in specific genes within the chloroplast or mitochondrial genomes. These mutations can confer the ability to survive in the presence of antibiotics, which is a key factor in determining the phenotypes of progeny from genetic crosses. Recognizing how these resistance traits are inherited is vital for predicting the outcomes of the crosses described in the question.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

You are a genetic counselor, and several members of the family whose pedigree for an inherited disorder is depicted in Genetic Analysis 17.2 consult with you about the probability that their progeny may be afflicted. What advice would you give individuals III-1, III-2, III-4, III-6, III-8, and III-9?

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Textbook Question

A mutation in Arabidopsis immutans results in the necrosis (death) of tissues in a mosaic configuration. Examination of the mitochondrial DNA detects deletions of various regions of the mitochondrial genome in the tissues that are necrotic. When immutans plants are crossed with wild-type plants, the  are wild type, and the  are wild type and immutans in a 3:1 ratio. Explain the inheritance of the immutans mutation and a possible origin of the mitochondrial DNA deletions.

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Textbook Question

What type or types of inheritance are consistent with the following pedigree? 

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Textbook Question

You have isolated two petite mutants, pet1 and pet2, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. When pet1 is mated with wild-type yeast, the haploid products following meiosis segregate 2:2 (wild type : petite). In contrast, when pet2 is mated with wild type, all haploid products following meiosis are wild type. To what class of petite mutations does each of these petite mutants belong? What types of progeny do you expect from a pet1 × pet2 mating?

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Textbook Question

Consider this human pedigree for a vision defect.

What is the most probable mode of inheritance of the disease? Identify any discrepancies between the pedigree and your proposed mode of transmission, and provide possible explanations for these exceptions. 

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Textbook Question

A 50-year-old man has been diagnosed with MELAS syndrome. His wife is phenotypically normal, and there is no history of MELAS syndrome in either of their families. The couple is concerned about whether their children will develop the disease. As a genetic counselor, what will you tell them? Would your answer change if it were the mother who exhibited disease symptoms rather than the father?

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