Question

A geneticist studying fruit flies hypothesizes that short wings are a recessive

trait coded for by a single gene. Which observation is most likely to have led
her to form this hypothesis?
F Flies have wing lengths ranging from very long to very short.
G Flies with long wings are less likely to survive.
H Flies with long wings can produce offspring with short wings.
J Flies with short wings prefer to mate with flies with long wings.

Answer 1

H Flies with long wings can produce offspring with short wings.

Step-by-step explanation:

For example, if we name the gene for the wings length with A, then the fruit flies with short wings have the genotype aa (recessive homozygous), while those with long wings can have either AA (dominant homozygous) or Aa (heterozygous) genotype. So, if two fruit flies with long wings and Aa genotype are crossed:

P: Aa x Aa

F1: AA Aa Aa aa

There is a 25% chance that offspring will have short wings.