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In Bikini Bottom, yellow sponge color is dominant while pink sponge color is recessive. SpongBob is a purebred yellow sponge. His new wife, SpongeAlly is a hybrid What is the probability that they will have a pink child?

User Drewes
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Final answer:

Using a Punnett square, SpongeBob's 'YY' genotype and SpongeAlly's 'Yy' genotype result in a 0% chance of having a pink child, as SpongeBob can only pass on the dominant 'Y' allele for yellow sponge color.

Step-by-step explanation:

Genetics of Sponge Color in Bikini Bottom

In the context of Bikini Bottom's sponges, where yellow sponge color is dominant and pink sponge color is recessive, we can use a Punnett square to determine the probability of SpongeBob and SpongeAlly having a pink child. Since SpongeBob is a purebred yellow sponge, his genotype for sponge color would be 'YY,' where 'Y' represents the dominant yellow allele. SpongeAlly, being a hybrid, has the genotype 'Yy,' with 'y' being the recessive pink allele. When these genotypes are crossed:

  • Parental genotypes: SpongeBob (YY) x SpongeAlly (Yy)
  • Offspring genotypes from Punnett square: 50% 'YY' (yellow) and 50% 'Yy' (yellow)
  • The chance of having an offspring with genotype 'yy' (pink) is 0% because SpongeBob can only pass on a 'Y' allele.

Therefore, the probability that SpongeBob and SpongeAlly will have a pink child is 0%.

User Debjit Saha
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