1 For most of the characteristics in this exercise you will

1. For most of the characteristics in this exercise, you will find the “parents” are heterozygous. What is the probability that both parents will contribute a recessive allele for any given trait? Justify your answer.

2. Compare and contrast genotype and phenotype.

Solution

(1)

Answer: ¼

“parents” are heterozygous: This means they carry a dominant and a recessive allele.

Probability of a parent contributing a recessive allele =½

Probability of a both the parents contributing a recessive allele = ½ x ½ = ¼

(2)

Genotype determine the phenotype of an individual. The phenotype is the visible or expressed trait whereas the genotype is the genetic makeup of an individual.