Final answer:
When a heterozygous normal tiger (Tt) is mated with a white tiger (tt), 50% of their offspring are expected to be white. This is determined by using a Punnett square and understanding that the presence of two recessive alleles (tt) results in the white phenotype.
Step-by-step explanation:
When calculating phenotypic ratios for offspring, we can use a Punnett square to predict the genetic outcomes. In tigers, if a recessive allele causes a white tiger and we cross a heterozygous normal tiger (Tt) with a white tiger (tt), the Punnett square is Tt x tt:
- Tt (Heterozygous normal)
- tt (White)
- Tt (Heterozygous normal)
- tt (White)
Thus, 50% of the offspring are expected to be white, as they will have the tt genotype. This is because the white phenotype is expressed only when the genotype is homozygous recessive (tt). The phenotypic ratio of the offspring is 1 normal-colored tiger to 1 white tiger.