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The inheritance of dimples, indentations in the skin on the cheeks, is a dominant trait ( ). the lack of dimples is a recessive genetic trait ( ). the punnett square shows an inheritance pattern for two parents. what percentage of the offspring will have dimples?

User CharlieB
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Final answer:

The percentage of offspring with dimples depends on the genotype of the parents. A Punnett square predicts the likelihood based on whether parents carry the dominant allele for dimples or are homozygous recessive, with a probability ranging from 50% to 100% for having dimpled offspring.

Step-by-step explanation:

The inheritance of dimples is an example of a trait controlled by a single gene, where the presence of dimples is a dominant trait, and the lack of dimples is a recessive trait. Using a Punnett square, one can predict the percentage of offspring that will have dimples when they know the genotype of the parents.

If we denote 'D' as the dominant allele for dimples and 'd' as the recessive allele for the lack of dimples, we can see different possible scenarios depending on the genotype of the parents. If one parent is homozygous dominant (DD) and the other is homozygous recessive (dd), all offspring will have dimples. In a case where one parent is heterozygous (Dd) and the other is homozygous recessive (dd), there will be a 50% chance for offspring to have dimples.

To determine the specific percentage for the given scenario, further information on the parents' genotypes is needed. Generally, if both parents carry at least one dominant allele (D), their children will likely have dimples. If they are both heterozygous (Dd), there is a 75% chance that their offspring will have dimples, while if one parent is heterozygous and the other homozygous recessive (dd), the chance is 50%.

User Wohlstad
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