Question

How many possible allele combinations in the gametes are there for an individual with 6 independently assorted genes each with two different alleles? (Undergraduate Genetics Course)

**Please include ALL steps and ALL calculations, thank you!**

Answer 1

Answer: there are 64 possible allele combinations in gametes for individual having 6 independent assorted genes each with 2 different alleles.

Explanation:

Given that individual having 6 independent assorted genes each with 2 different alleles.

So,Number of genes with different alleles (n) = 6

Number of possible allele combinations in gametes = 2ⁿ

2 ⁶ = 64.

For example:

1)aaBb: here individual having two independent assorted genes with one of them having different alleles.so possible combinations of alleles are:

aaBb possible combinations are 2=aB, ab

here n=1, 2¹=2

2)CCDdee here individual having 3 independent assorted genes, among which only one genes having different alleles.

possible combinations are 2= CDe,CDe

Here n=1, 2¹ =2

3) AaBbCC: here individual having 3 independent assorted genes among which only 2 having different alleles.

Possible combinations are 4= ABC,AbC,aBC,abC

Here n=2, 2² = 4

4) AaBbCcDdEeFf: here individual having 6 independent assorted genes, each with two different alleles.

So here n=6, 2⁶= 64.