Question

What is a Punnett square and how do I use it

Answer 1

A: Punnett squares help scientists predict probability. Punnett squares are similar to a multiplication table, the genes of one parent are lined up across the top of the square and the genes of the other parent are lined up vertically on the left-hand side. By combining the genes from the top and side and placing them in their corresponding boxes, one can see possible gene combinations.

Answer 2

A punnett square is used in genetics to find out what possible gene outcomes there are for offspring of an organism. You take the two inputs (in this case Y and y) and you have them go into the rows or columns like this. For this example, you have a Yy banana (yellow) and a yy banana (green). The Y in this case goes across the top row, and the other y goes across the row below it. On the top, you have a yy banana, and the y and y go down the columns. Any banana that is YY, Yy or yY will be yellow, but any banana that is yy will be green. This punnett square is saying that in this (hypothetical) situation, a yellow banana mating with a green banana will have a 50/50 chance of producing a yellow or green banana.

Hope this helped!