You have performed a mutagenesis screening in a population of organisms. Describe how you would identify mutations that are dominant. Describe how you would identify mutations that are recessive

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

To identify dominant mutations, breed the mutant individual to a wild-type individual. Dominant mutations will be visible in the F1 generation. These will be rare, since they represent gain-of-function mutations. Although more common, recessive mutations cannot be identified until the F3 generation. To identify recessive mutations, mate-mutagenized individuals to wild-type individuals – the F1 will have a wild-type phenotype. Back-cross individual F1 progeny to a
wild-type parent to produce separate F2 families; half the individuals will carry newly induced mutations. Interbreed the F2 family siblings to produce individuals that are homozygous for each mutation.