Question

In tigers, a recessive allele causes a white tiger (absence of fur pigmentation). If one phenotypically normal tiger that is heterozygous is mated to another that is phenotypically white, what percentage of their offspring is expected to be white? Group of answer choicesA) 75%

B) 50%
C) 100%
D) 25%
E) 0%

Answer 1

B) 50%

Step-by-step explanation:

Recessive alleles need two be present in both homologous chromosomes to express and to observe the phenotype they determine in the individual.

The possible genotypes and phenotypes for fur pigmentation in tigers are:

• aa: white
• Aa: normal
• AA: normal

The phenotypically normal heterozygous tiger is Aa and is crossed with a white tiger aa.

The Aa tiger produces 1/2 A gametes and 1/2 a. The aa tiger only produces a gametes.

The possible offspring resulting from the combination of those gametes is:

• 1/2 Aa: normal
• 1/2 aa: white

So 1/2 = 50% of the offspring will be white.