Genetics: Understanding Punnett Square for Pea Plant Cross
What is the Punnett square and how is it used in genetic crosses?
The Punnett square is a genetic tool used to determine how gametes are combined in a specific genetic cross. It helps in predicting the possible genotypes and phenotypes of the offspring resulting from a mating.
Answer:
When a green pea plant (Gg) crosses with a yellow pea plant (gg), the resulting phenotype and genotype are both 50% green and 50% yellow. The Punnett square for this cross would show the combinations of alleles from the parent plants and predict the potential outcomes in terms of genotype and phenotype.
When we use a Punnett square for a genetic cross between a green pea plant (Gg) and a yellow pea plant (gg), the possible combinations of alleles are represented in a grid. The uppercase and lowercase letters denote the dominant and recessive alleles, respectively.
In this specific cross, the Punnett square would show that half of the offspring will inherit the dominant green allele (G) and half will inherit the recessive yellow allele (g). This results in 50% green and 50% yellow phenotype, as well as 50% of the offspring being heterozygous (Gg) and the other 50% being homozygous recessive (gg) in genotype.
The Punnett square provides a visual representation of the possible genetic outcomes of a cross and helps in understanding the inheritance patterns of traits. By analyzing the combinations of alleles in the square, we can make predictions about the genotypes and phenotypes that may be observed in the offspring.