In Drosophila, a cross was made between females—all expressing the three X-linked recessive traits scute bristles (sc), sable body (s), and vermilion eyes (v)—and wild-type males. In the F₁, all females were wild type, while all males expressed all three mutant traits. The cross was carried to the F₂ generation, and 1000 offspring were counted, with the results shown in the following table. Phenotype Offspring sc s v 314 + + + 280 + s v 150 sc + + 156 sc + v 46 + s + 30 sc s + 10 + + v 14 No determination of sex was made in the data. Determine the sequence of the three genes and the map distances between them.

Key Concepts

X-linked Inheritance

X-linked inheritance refers to the pattern of inheritance for genes located on the X chromosome. In Drosophila, males have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome, while females have two X chromosomes. This means that recessive traits linked to the X chromosome will manifest in males if they inherit the recessive allele, while females may be carriers if they have one normal allele. Understanding this concept is crucial for interpreting the inheritance patterns observed in the offspring.

Gene Mapping and Recombination Frequency

Gene mapping involves determining the relative positions of genes on a chromosome and the distances between them, often expressed in map units or centimorgans (cM). The recombination frequency, calculated from the offspring phenotypes, indicates how often crossing over occurs between genes during meiosis. A lower recombination frequency suggests that genes are closer together on the chromosome, while a higher frequency indicates they are further apart. This concept is essential for determining the order of the three X-linked traits in the question.

Phenotypic Ratios and Chi-Square Analysis

Phenotypic ratios represent the relative frequencies of different phenotypes observed in the offspring of a genetic cross. Analyzing these ratios helps in understanding the inheritance patterns and verifying the expected outcomes based on Mendelian genetics. Chi-square analysis can be used to compare the observed offspring ratios with the expected ratios to assess the validity of the genetic model. This statistical method is important for confirming the gene order and distances derived from the observed data.