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Abstract. Caenorhabditis elegans is a tiny worm that can use both cross-fertilization and self-fertilization. We expected to see C. elegans follow the phenotypic ratio of 3:1 in its second filial generation. I was als ...

Abstract. Caenorhabditis elegans is a tiny worm that can use both cross-fertilization and self-fertilization. We expected to see C. elegans follow the phenotypic ratio of 3:1 in its second filial generation. I was also interested if the dpy-3 allele would be dominant in wild type. We not only concluded that C. elegans don’t follow Mendelian Genetics patterns, but were able to see that dpy-3 gene is linked to X chromosome. We figured out that dpy-3 + allele is dominant in wild type. We also saw that every dpy-3 allele in males is expressed as dominant due to their XO chromosomes. Introduction. Caenorhabditis elegans was the first multicellular eukaryotic organism to have its genome sequenced, it is a tiny worm that feeds on various microorganisms found in rotting vegetable matter. (Corsi) C. elegans has a very short life span of 3-5 days which is beneficial for experimenters and scientists because the worms have short time to give life to their next generation and we don’t have to wait for long time. C. elegans also lays many eggs which allows us to observe and count the phenotypic ratio of their offspring. As we set our experiment with C. elegans , we were curious if C. elegans would follow Mendel’s Principles that describe sexual reproduction. Each allele, whether it is homozygous or heterozygous, is inherited and may or may not be expressed (depending on dominance) in the next generation. Individual traits are inherited in expected or predictable ways. (Gorp, Lynn Van.) Mendel’s law of segregation states that two alleles for a gene segregate during gamete formation and unite randomly during fertilization. Mendel's law of independent assortment states that the alleles of two (or more) different genes get sorted into gametes independently of one another. (Shrestha) According to previously stated terms, the expected phenotype would be 3:1 which can be easily shown using a Punnett square.