In guinea pigs, black hair color is dominant (B) and white hair color is recessive (b). What hair color are the guinea pigs offspring from the Punnett Square above?”
A all black
B. all white
C. mostly white with some black
D. mostly black with some white
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
To determine the hair color of guinea pig offspring, we analyze the Punnett Square. Since black hair color (B) is dominant, and white hair color (b) is recessive, the possible genetic crosses depend on the parental genotypes.
Possible Parent Genotypes:
- BB (Homozygous Black) x BB (Homozygous Black)
- All offspring are BB (100% black).
- BB (Homozygous Black) x Bb (Heterozygous Black)
- 50% BB (Black), 50% Bb (Black) → 100% black offspring.
- BB (Homozygous Black) x bb (Homozygous White)
- 100% Bb (Black, carries white gene).
- Bb (Heterozygous Black) x Bb (Heterozygous Black)
- 25% BB (Black), 50% Bb (Black), 25% bb (White).
- Offspring: 75% black, 25% white.
- Bb (Heterozygous Black) x bb (Homozygous White)
- 50% Bb (Black), 50% bb (White).
- Offspring: 50% black, 50% white.
- bb (Homozygous White) x bb (Homozygous White)
- 100% white offspring.
Answer:
If the Punnett Square indicates a Bb x Bb cross, then the offspring are:
- 75% black
- 25% white
Thus, the correct answer is:
D. Mostly black with some white.
This pattern occurs because the black allele (B) is dominant over the white allele (b), so even heterozygous offspring (Bb) appear black.
Now, I will generate an image illustrating this Punnett Square.
Here is an image illustrating the Punnett Square for guinea pig hair color inheritance. It visually represents the Bb x Bb cross, showing that 75% of the offspring have black hair, while 25% have white hair. Let me know if you need any modifications!