Question

In Mendel's experiments on seed color in pea plants, when a dominant yellow seed-bearing plant was crossed with a recessive green seed-bearing plant, what was the approximate phenotypic ratio among the F2 generation?

A. 1 yellow: 3 green
B. 1 yellow: 1 green
C. 3 yellow: 1 green
D. all yellow
E. 9:3:3:1

Answer 1

The phenotypic ratio among the F2 generation of Mendel's pea plant experiments, when crossing a dominant yellow seed plant with a recessive green seed plant, is approximately 3 yellow to 1 green (option C).

Step-by-step explanation:

In Mendel's experiments with pea plants, the question is concerned with the phenotypic ratio among the F2 generation when a dominant yellow seed-bearing plant (YY) is crossed with a recessive green seed-bearing plant (yy). In the F1 generation, all offspring are heterozygous (Yy), displaying the yellow phenotype. However, when these F1 plants are crossed to create an F2 generation, the phenotypic ratio observed is approximately 3 yellow : 1 green, because the outcomes are YY (yellow), Yy (yellow), Yy (yellow), and yy (green). Mendel's calculations, based on large numbers of crosses, confirmed these results, which are explained by the basic principles of Mendelian inheritance.