These little bunnies (A, B, and C) were born in the same litter to the same parents, but they have different traits for the feature of ear thickness. Bunny A has thick ears, bunny B has average ears, and bunny C has thin ears. How did these bunnies end up with ear thicknesses that are different from one another even though they have the same parents? How did the gene combinations result in the different traits?
Answers
Chromosomes are strings of DNA. They act as blueprints or programs by which an organism builds itself. A chromosome is made up of individual points (or loci) called genes. An individual gene determines either the appearance or function of a body part. This gene may act alone or, usually, in concert with other genes to determine a particular appearance or function.
A chromosome string is linked together with one other chromosome string of the same type having the same gene locations. Thus, chromosomes and the genes on them occur in pairs in most of the cells of the body. There are 22 different chromosome pairs existing in each cell of the rabbit except the sex cells and red blood cells. Each chromosome pair controls different functions. For instance, the X and Y chromosomes determine sexual characteristics.
The same location on each chromosome of the pair controls the same characteristic. There are thus two genes involved - one on each chromosome at the same location. A particular gene location may allow only one type of gene to be present there; whereas, another location may allow different types of genes to occupy it. Those locations that allow only one type of gene on both chromosomes do so because any other type would cause either deleterious or fatal effects. An example of this would be the genes that control the shape of the teeth. If any other than the expected gene type is present at this location, the teeth would not grow in right, which could cause starvation.
Explanation: When the parents reproduced, one of the mothers egg cells and fathers sperm cell created a new gene for the offspring. They made a completely new cell for one of the bunnies and repeated that proccess for the 2nd bunny giving them different traits.