Problem 3

Flower position, stem length, and seed shape were three characters that Mendel studied. Each is controlled by an independently assorting gene and has dominant and recessive expression as follows:

Character
Dominant
Recessive
Flower position
Axial (A )
Terminal (a )
Stem length
Tall (T )
Dwarf (t )
Seed shape
Round (R )
Wrinkled (r)

If a plant that is heterozygous for all three characters were allowed to self-fertilize, what proportion of the offspring would be expected to be as follows: (Note - use the rules of probability (and show your work) instead of huge Punnett squares)

a) homozygous for the three dominant traits

AATTRR = 1/4 x 1/4 x 1/4 = 1/64

 

b) homozygous for the three recessive traits

aattrr = 1/4 x 1/4 x 1/4 = 1/64

 

c) heterozygous (assumed for each trait)

AaTtRr = 1/2 x 1/2 x 1/2 = 1/8

 

d) homozygous for axial and tall, heterozygous for seed shape

AATTRr = 1/4 x 1/4 x 1/2 = 1/32