Final answer:
It is possible for two tall corn plants to produce a short corn plant if both parents carry the recessive allele for shortness. A cross between two heterozygous tall plants (Tt) has a 25% chance to result in a short (tt) offspring, due to Mendelian inheritance patterns.
Step-by-step explanation:
Is it Possible for Two Tall Corn Plants to Produce a Short Corn Plant Variety?
Yes, it is possible for two tall corn plants to produce a short corn plant variety. This outcome can be explained by Mendelian genetics, particularly the concept of dominant and recessive alleles. In corn, as in many plants, certain traits such as plant height are determined by genes with two different forms of alleles: dominant and recessive. The tall trait (T) in corn is typically dominant over the short trait (t). If both tall plants are heterozygous (Tt), meaning they each have one allele for tallness and one for shortness, there is a chance for the offspring to be short.
When heterozygous plants are crossed (Tt x Tt), they follow a predictable inheritance pattern as demonstrated in Mendel's experiments. According to the Punnett square, a genetic tool used to predict the probability of inheriting traits, there is a 25% chance that the offspring will inherit the short allele from both parents (tt), resulting in a short plant. This represents Mendel's observation that some traits, like shortness in this instance, can skip a generation and reappear in the following one.
Understanding the genetic makeup and differences in developmental genes that alter the physical characteristics of plants is crucial in agriculture. Selective breeding over generations, starting from a wild grass called teosinte, has transformed it into modern, domesticated corn. Breeders select specific traits such as size, sweetness, and resistance to diseases like Maize dwarf mosaic virus to improve crop varieties.