Classical Genetics

Backcross Breeding 1 - Basic Gene Inheritance

This lesson reviews the basics of gene inheritance. It compares plants that are homozygous, heterozygous, and hemizygous for an allele and how gene expression is affected by the dominance of an allele. It also explains how to use a Punnett square to predict genotypic and phenotypic ratios of offspring.

Backcross Breeding 2 - The Backcrossing Process

This lesson discusses the final stage of developing genetically engineered crops. The need for backcrossing, and the steps of this breeding method are described. Yield lag, yield drag, and gene stacking are also discussed.

Corn Rootworm - Part 1: Description of Corn Rootworm and Other Early Season Corn Pests

This lesson will discuss the corn rootworm complex, which consists of the northern, western, and southern corn rootworm, focusing on the northern and western species. The information in this lesson will focus on the biology of corn rootworms in the north central Corn Belt, including Iowa and Nebraska. Crop producers, crop scouts, students, and the general public may find the information in this lesson helpful for identifying corn rootworm, other corn pests, and the feeding damage caused by each insect.

Herbicide Resistance: Mechanisms, Inheritance, and Molecular Genetics

Explanation of the biochemical mechanisms and genetics of herbicide-resistance in weeds and the management and spread of herbicide-resistant weeds in relationship to the biochemical mechanisms and inheritance of resistance.

Just the facts

Description of the fundamental concepts of trait inheritance in sexually reproducing species.

Native Plant Breeding: Bringing the Beauty of Nature Home

Looks at how native plant breeders create plants with new combinations of desired traits; the relationship between plants, flowers and seeds; male and female structures flowers; flower types based on structures observed in the flower; and how flower structures impact plant crossbreeding.

Quantitative Traits

Examines quantitative versus qualitative traits, looking at the use of phenotypes in determining quantitative control of heritability.

The Dihybrid Cross and Independent Assortment

Examines the principle of segregation versus the principle of independent assortment and their effects on genetic data; and the concept of dominance.

The Inheritance of Variation

An introduction to genetic inheritance, including the principles of segregation and dominance.