Question

In a galaxy far, away, the form of the gene for long hair in wookies (H) is dominant while short hair (h) is recessive. If Chewbaca, who is heterozygous for long hair, marries a short-haired wookie, what is the probability that theirs will be born with short hair?

Answer 1

Using Mendelian inheritance and a Punnett square, Chewbacca (heterozygous Hh for long hair) and a short-haired wookie (homozygous recessive hh) will have a 50% probability of producing an offspring with short hair.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question involves an example of Mendelian inheritance, which is a concept in biology. When considering Chewbacca (with genotype Hh for long hair, where H is dominant) and a short-haired wookie (with genotype hh), we can predict their offspring's phenotypes using a Punnett square. Since Chewbacca contributes either an H or h allele and the short-haired wookie contributes only h alleles, the probability of an offspring having short hair (hh) is 50%.

This is mirrored in a similar example where a person with cleft chin (heterozygous Bb) mates with one with a smooth chin (homozygous recessive bb). The offspring have a 50% chance of inheriting the B allele (resulting in a cleft chin) and a 50% chance of inheriting the b allele from the heterozygous parent (resulting in a smooth chin).