Final answer:
Genetic factors are passed from parents to offspring based on the laws of inheritance. Punnett squares predict the genotypic and phenotypic outcomes of genetic crosses, like the dominant yellow and recessive green seeds in pea plants.
Step-by-step explanation:
Genetic factors influence the growth of organisms through the laws of inheritance, which describe how certain traits are passed from parents to their offspring. A Punnett square is a tool used to predict the genotypic and phenotypic outcomes of crosses.
For example, in a monohybrid cross using pea plants with dominant yellow seeds (YY) and recessive green seeds (yy), a Punnett square can help visualize all possible combinations of alleles forming the gametes. When crossed, all resulting F1 offspring have the genotype Yy, expressing the yellow seed phenotype since yellow is dominant over green.
The principles of inheritance, including dominance and recessiveness, along with segregation and independent assortment, allow us to calculate the likelihood of inheriting specific traits. This is crucial for predicting the outcomes in breeding, as seen with the plants that are insect-resistant and fast-growing. By applying Mendelian laws, we can determine the probability of offspring inheriting both desirable traits.