Name: ______________________________________ Per. _____ Date: ___________________
Lab partner’s name: ____________________________________
Background:
Dr. Nefario needs to help the Minion species stay genetically varied to help protect them from
extinction (cuz let’s face it, the world would be a sad place without minions). Since all
Minions are male, natural reproduction is not an option, but Dr. Nefario doesn’t want to simply
clone Minions. Instead, he is going to take one chromosome from each Minion and combine it
with a second chromosome from another Minion. Minions only have one pair of chromosomes
and all the genes are on those chromosomes. Therefore, each genetic trait has two alleles.
Today, you are going to assist Dr. Nefario with making more Minions and increasing Minion
genetic diversity.
Learning Target: Make a Minion Genetics
I Can… Demonstrate my understanding of Mendelian genetics and Punnett square
probability predictions.
I know I am successful when I can…
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Determine genotypes and phenotypes for Dominant/Recessive alleles.
Predict potential offspring genotype ratio and phenotype percentage for monohybrid
crosses of traits.
Complete a dihybrid cross for two traits.
Create a Minion by translating genotype into phenotype for various traits.
Procedure:
1. Use a coin to determine what alleles are present on chromosome number 1 and chromosome
number 2 for each trait.
Heads = Dominant
Tails = Recessive
a. Refer to the Trait Chart below to determine which allele version is dominant and which
allele version is recessive.
b. Record your allele results for each trait for chromosome number 1 under the appropriate column in Data
Table 1.
c. Repeat the coin flip procedure and record allele results for chromosome 2 under the appropriate column
in Data Table 1.
2. Record the genotype for each trait under the appropriate column in Data Table 1.
3. Determine the phenotype for each trait from the genotype and record in the appropriate column of Data
Table 1.
4. Once your minion is finished, pair up with a different group and determine what an offspring Minion would
look like if their genetics were crossed.
a. Complete Data Table 2 with the information about the other group’s Minion. (make sure you get this info
before going any further)
b. Complete the Punnett squares for each cross.
c. Determine the genotype ratio for each cross.
d. Determine the phenotype percentage for each cross.
5. Complete a dihybrid cross between your Minion and the other Minion for two traits.
6. Use the phenotype for each trait from Data Table 1 (Your Minion) to create your minion.
a. Use the template material packet and markers/crayons to give your Minion the appropriate physical
features determined by their genetic makeup.
Minion Trait Chart
Trait
Body color
Height
Body shape
Number of eyes
Color of eyes
Hands
Hair
Personality
Dominant Allele
Yellow (Y)
Tall (T)
Stocky (S)
Two (E)
Brown (B)
3 fingers (F)
Spikey hair (H)*
*If Minion is purple and has spikey hair, then the
hair is a big straight-up tuft.
Outgoing (O) [open smile]
Recessive Allele
Purple (y)
Short (t)
Skinny (s)
One (e)
Green (b)
4 fingers (f)
Flat hair (h)*
*Purple minions have
fluffy flat hair.
Shy (o) [closed smile]
Data Table 1 (Your Minion)
Trait
Chromosome 1
Allele
Chromosome 2
Allele
Genotype
Phenotype
Chromosome 2
Allele
Genotype
Phenotype
Body color
Height
Body shape
Number of eyes
Color of eyes
Hands
Hair
Personality
Data Table 2 (Other Group’s Minion)
Trait
Body color
Height
Body shape
Number of eyes
Color of eyes
Hands
Hair
Personality
Chromosome 1
Allele
Analysis:
Using the genotype of your Minion and another group’s Minion, complete each Punnett square, genotype ratio,
and phenotype percentage for each designated trait.
1. Cross your Minion and the other group’s Minion for the trait of body color.
a. Complete the Punnett square for the monohybrid cross.
b. What is the genotype ratio for the possible offspring?
c. What is the percentage chance of having a purple
offspring?
2. Cross your Minion with the other group’s Minion for the trait of number of eyes.
a. Complete the Punnett square for the monohybrid cross.
b. What is the genotype ratio for the potential offspring?
c. What is the percentage chance of having an offspring with 2
eyes?
3. Complete a Punnett square for a dihybrid cross for both the traits of height and body shape.
4.
What is the percentage chance of having an offspring Minion that is both tall and skinny?
5. What is the percentage chance of having an offspring Minion that is both tall and stocky?
6. What is the percentage chance of having an offspring Minion that is both short and stocky?
7. What is the percentage chance of having an offspring Minion that is both short and skinny?