Final answer:
A cowlick refers to the growth pattern emerging from a point at the front hairline and curving to one side. Whorls are circular patterns not limited to the front hairline, while a widow's peak is a distinct V-shaped hairline. If one parent has a widow's peak and the other has a straight hairline, the probability of their child inheriting a widow's peak is 50%.
Step-by-step explanation:
The natural growth pattern that forms from a point at the front hairline and curves to one side is known as a cowlick. This type of growth pattern can often dictate the direction in which the hair naturally wants to grow, affecting hairstyles and the way hair lies on the head. A whorl is a circular growth pattern that can occur anywhere on the scalp, not necessarily at the front hairline, while a widow's peak is a V-shaped point in the hairline. As for the question concerning the probability of a child inheriting a widow's peak, if the father has a widow's peak (a dominant trait) and the mother has a straight hairline (a recessive trait), and knowing that the father's mother had a straight hairline, there is a 50% chance (0.5) that their child will inherit the widow's peak. This assumes the father is heterozygous for the trait.