C-Ferns have independent haploid and diploid generations, distinct sexual types within the gametophyte generation, and they rapidly develop to full sexual maturity within two weeks. They also possess a variety of distinct visual phenotypes that can be used to perform genetic crosses. All of these traits make the C-Fern a desirable candidate for genetic experiments. This study was conducted to investigate inheritance of normal phenotype and polka dot phenotype in C-Ferns. In this experiment, petri dishes containing Basic C-Fern Medium were inoculated with spores from an F1 hybrid C-Fern plant. This produced a gametophyte generation. The gametophytes were allowed to fertilize, which then produced a sporophyte generation. The gametophyte generation contained a 1:1 ratio of polka dot phenotypes to normal phenotypes. The sporophyte generation contained a 2:1 ratio of polka dot phenotypes to normal phenotypes.
Introduction.
Gregor Mendel discovered the laws of heredity between the years of 1856 and 1863. Mendel conducted experiments in plant hybridization, collecting the results of cross-fertilizing hundreds of pea plants.When Mendel performed cross-pollination between a true-breeding yellow pod plant and a true-breeding green pod plant, he noticed that all of the resulting offspring, F1 generation, were green. He then allowed all of the green F1 plants to self-pollinate. He referred to these offspring as the F2 generation. Mendel noticed a 3:1 ratio in pod color. About 3/4 of the F2 plants had green pods and about 1/4 had yellow pods. From these experiments Mendel formulated what is now known as Mendel's law of segregation. This law states that allele pairs separate or segregate during gamete formation, and randomly unite at fertilization.
In our experiment, we tested the law of segregation on C-Ferns. We used C-Ferns for our study for several reasons. C-Ferns have independent haploid and diploid generations, distinct sexual types within the gametophyte generation, and they rapidly develop to full sexual maturity within two weeks.
