Lab 8 Population Genetics BIO101L
Student Name:
Access Code (located on the lid of your lab kit):
Lab Report Format Expectations
Utilize college level grammar and professional formatting when completing this worksheet.
Pre-lab Questions
Assume the following to answer the below pre-lab questions:
● There are approximately 3,000,000,000 base pairs in the mammalian genome (genes
constitute only a portion of this total).
● There are approximately 10,000 genes in the mammalian genome.
● A single gene averages 10,000 base pairs in size.
● Only 1 out of 3 mutations that occur in a gene result in a change to the protein
structure.
In the mammalian genome:
1. How many total base-pairs are in all the mammalian genes?
There are 10,000 genes each averaging 10,000 base pairs, so 10,000 × 10,000 =
100,000,000 base pairs.
2. What proportion (%) of the total genome does this represent?
The total genome has about 3,000,000,000 base pairs. Thus, 100,000,000 ÷
3,000,000,000 ≈ 0.0333, or about 3.33% of the genome.
3. What is the probability that a random mutation will occur in any given gene?
Since the genes make up roughly 3.33% of the genome, the probability that a mutation
lands in a gene is approximately 3.33%.
4. What is the probability that a random mutation will change the structure of a protein?
Only 1 out of 3 mutations in a gene changes protein structure. Thus, 3.33% × 1/3 ≈ 1.11%
chance.
Note: In the following experiments on gene pool, gene frequency, and genetic diversity;
assume there are four alleles for color and that they are all homologous.
, Lab 8 Population Genetics BIO101L
EXPERIMENT 1: GENETIC VARIATION
Data and Observations
Report your observed population compositions for both beakers in the below tables.
Beaker #1 Population Composition
# of Individuals % of Population
Red Beads Blue Beads Total Red Beads Blue Beads Total
25 25 50 50 50 100
Beaker #2 Population Composition
# of Individuals % of Population
Yellow Beads Green Beads Total Yellow Beads Green Beads Total
22 28 20 50 50 100
Results and Discussion
1. What do the beads represent in this experiment?
The beads represent different alleles (versions) of a gene that controls color.
2. What can you say about the genetic variation between these populations?
The different proportions of colored beads indicate that there is genetic variation
between the populations, reflecting differences in allele frequency.
Student Name:
Access Code (located on the lid of your lab kit):
Lab Report Format Expectations
Utilize college level grammar and professional formatting when completing this worksheet.
Pre-lab Questions
Assume the following to answer the below pre-lab questions:
● There are approximately 3,000,000,000 base pairs in the mammalian genome (genes
constitute only a portion of this total).
● There are approximately 10,000 genes in the mammalian genome.
● A single gene averages 10,000 base pairs in size.
● Only 1 out of 3 mutations that occur in a gene result in a change to the protein
structure.
In the mammalian genome:
1. How many total base-pairs are in all the mammalian genes?
There are 10,000 genes each averaging 10,000 base pairs, so 10,000 × 10,000 =
100,000,000 base pairs.
2. What proportion (%) of the total genome does this represent?
The total genome has about 3,000,000,000 base pairs. Thus, 100,000,000 ÷
3,000,000,000 ≈ 0.0333, or about 3.33% of the genome.
3. What is the probability that a random mutation will occur in any given gene?
Since the genes make up roughly 3.33% of the genome, the probability that a mutation
lands in a gene is approximately 3.33%.
4. What is the probability that a random mutation will change the structure of a protein?
Only 1 out of 3 mutations in a gene changes protein structure. Thus, 3.33% × 1/3 ≈ 1.11%
chance.
Note: In the following experiments on gene pool, gene frequency, and genetic diversity;
assume there are four alleles for color and that they are all homologous.
, Lab 8 Population Genetics BIO101L
EXPERIMENT 1: GENETIC VARIATION
Data and Observations
Report your observed population compositions for both beakers in the below tables.
Beaker #1 Population Composition
# of Individuals % of Population
Red Beads Blue Beads Total Red Beads Blue Beads Total
25 25 50 50 50 100
Beaker #2 Population Composition
# of Individuals % of Population
Yellow Beads Green Beads Total Yellow Beads Green Beads Total
22 28 20 50 50 100
Results and Discussion
1. What do the beads represent in this experiment?
The beads represent different alleles (versions) of a gene that controls color.
2. What can you say about the genetic variation between these populations?
The different proportions of colored beads indicate that there is genetic variation
between the populations, reflecting differences in allele frequency.
