Question

For cats, B = black fur b = white fur. A Heterozygous parent mates with a homozygous recessive parent. What are the odds that their kitten is a heterozygote?

Answer 1

The odds that the kitten from a heterozygous (Bb) and a homozygous recessive (bb) parent is heterozygous are 50%, as calculated using a Punnett square.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question describes a mating scenario between two cats of different genetic makeups for fur color, where B represents black fur and b represents white fur. The offspring possibilities from a heterozygous parent (Bb) mating with a homozygous recessive parent (bb) are to be considered. Using a Punnett square to determine the genotypic outcomes, the following is observed:

• The heterozygous parent (Bb) can contribute either the B allele or the b allele.
• The homozygous recessive parent (bb) can only contribute the b allele.

When these alleles are combined in a Punnett square, the resulting genotypes of the offspring would be 50% Bb (heterozygous) and 50% bb (homozygous recessive). Therefore, the odds that their kitten is a heterozygote for fur color are 50%.