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7: Chi Square Analysis

Statistical evaluation of genetic data, chi-square test statistic, and hypothesis testing.

Chi-Square Terms and Definitions Matching

Click to show Chi-Square Terms and Definitions Matching example problem

Match each of the following chi-square (χ²) terms with their corresponding defintions.
Note: Each choice will be used exactly once.

Your Choice Prompt
Drop Your Choice Here 1. level of significance, α
Drop Your Choice Here 2. null hypothesis, H0
Drop Your Choice Here 3. p-value
Drop Your Choice Here 4. critical value

Drag one of the choices below:

  • A. this hypothesis makes it easier to calculate the expected values
  • B. a fixed probability cutoff whether the null hypothesis, H0 is assumed to be accepted or rejected
  • C. the sum of the normalized square difference between observed and expected data
  • D. the smaller this number, the bigger the chi-square (χ²) test statistic
 

Chi-Square Test Terms and Definitions

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Which one of the following chi-square (χ²) terms correspond to the defintion 'if this value is large, then there is stronger evidence in favor of the alternative hypothesis, Ha'.

 

True/False Statements on Chi-Square Tests

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Which one of the following statements is TRUE regarding chi-square (χ²) tests?

 

Chi-Squared Test for Phenotypic Ratios

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Table of Chi-Squared (χ²) Critical Values
Degrees of Freedom Probability
0.95 0.90 0.75 0.50 0.25 0.10 0.05 0.01
1 0.00 0.02 0.10 0.45 1.32 2.71 3.84 6.63
2 0.10 0.21 0.58 1.39 2.77 4.61 5.99 9.21
3 0.35 0.58 1.21 2.37 4.11 6.25 7.81 11.34
4 0.71 1.06 1.92 3.36 5.39 7.78 9.49 13.28

Table 1
Phenotype Expected Observed Calculation Statistic
 Yellow Round (Y–R–) 90 75 (75-90)²⁄ 75² 0.040
 Yellow Wrinkled (Y–rr) 30 20 (20-30)²⁄ 20² 0.250
 Green Round (yyR–) 30 49 (49-30)²⁄ 49² 0.150
 Green Wrinkled (yyrr) 10 16 (16-10)²⁄ 16² 0.141
(sum) χ² =  0.581

Table 2
Phenotype Expected Observed Calculation Statistic
 Yellow Round (Y–R–) 90 75 (75-90)²⁄ 75 3.000
 Yellow Wrinkled (Y–rr) 30 20 (20-30)²⁄ 20 5.000
 Green Round (yyR–) 30 49 (49-30)²⁄ 49 7.367
 Green Wrinkled (yyrr) 10 16 (16-10)²⁄ 16 2.250
(sum) χ² =  17.617

Table 3
Phenotype Expected Observed Calculation Statistic
 Yellow Round (Y–R–) 90 75 (75-90)²⁄ 90 2.500
 Yellow Wrinkled (Y–rr) 30 20 (20-30)²⁄ 30 3.333
 Green Round (yyR–) 30 49 (49-30)²⁄ 30 12.033
 Green Wrinkled (yyrr) 10 16 (16-10)²⁄ 10 3.600
(sum) χ² =  21.467


Your lab partner is trying again (eye roll) and did another a chi-squared (χ²) test on the F2 generation in a dihybid cross based on your lab data (above). They wanted to know if the results confirm the expected phenotype ratios.
You helped them set up the null hypothesis, so you know that part is correct, but they got confused and were unsure about how to calculate the chi-squared (χ²) value. So much so that they did it three (3) different ways.
Before you ask your instructor for a new lab partner, tell them which table is correct AND whether they can accept or reject the null hypothesis using the information provided.

 

Chi-Squared Test for Goodness of Fit

Click to show Chi-Squared Test for Goodness of Fit example problem
Table of Chi-Squared (χ²) Critical Values
Degrees of Freedom Probability
0.95 0.90 0.75 0.50 0.25 0.10 0.05 0.01
1 0.00 0.02 0.10 0.45 1.32 2.71 3.84 6.63
2 0.10 0.21 0.58 1.39 2.77 4.61 5.99 9.21
3 0.35 0.58 1.21 2.37 4.11 6.25 7.81 11.34
4 0.71 1.06 1.92 3.36 5.39 7.78 9.49 13.28

Phenotype Expected Observed Calculation Statistic
 Yellow Round (Y–R–) 90 86 (86-90)⁄ 90 -0.044
 Yellow Wrinkled (Y–rr) 30 28 (28-30)⁄ 30 -0.067
 Green Round (yyR–) 30 38 (38-30)⁄ 30 0.267
 Green Wrinkled (yyrr) 10 8 (8-10)⁄ 10 -0.200
(sum) χ² =  -0.044

The final result gives the chi-squared (χ²) test value of -0.04 with 3 degrees of freedom. Consulting the Table of χ² Critical Values and a level of significance α=0.05, we obtain a critical value of 7.81.
Since the chi-squared value of -0.04 is less than the critical value of 7.81, the null hypothesis is ACCEPTED.


Your lab partner completed a chi-squared (χ²) test on your lab data (above) for the F2 generation in a standard dihybrid cross. The goal was to verify if the observed results matched the expected phenotype ratios.
However, it appears they made an error. What did they do wrong?