Question

The allele for yellow seeds masks the allele for green seeds in pea plants. A

true-breeding pea plant with yellow seeds is crossed with a true-breeding pea
plant with green seeds. Which statement reflects evidence of the law of
segregation in the offspring?
A. The F₁ generation will have only plants with green seeds, but the
F2 generation is likely to include both plants with yellow seeds and
plants with green seeds..
B. The F₁ generation will have only plants with yellow seeds, but the
F2 generation is likely to include both plants with yellow seeds and
plants with green seeds.
C. The F₁ generation will include more plants with green seeds than
the F2 generation.
D. The F₁ and F₂ generations are likely to have equal ratios of green
seeds to yellow seeds.

Answer 1

The correct statement is B. The F₁ generation will have only plants with yellow seeds, but the F2 generation is likely to include both plants with yellow seeds and plants with green seeds.

The law of segregation states that the two alleles for a trait separate during gamete formation and end up in different gametes. In the F1 generation, the yellow allele masks the green allele, so all of the plants will have yellow seeds. However, in the F2 generation, the offspring will receive one allele from each parent during fertilization, so some offspring will have yellow seeds and some will have green seeds, reflecting the separation of the alleles.