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In corn the smooth kernel allele (S) is dominant over the rough kernel allele (s). What are parental genotypes for a cross that yields 100% rough kernel off spring?

User Arqam
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Final answer:

Both parents must have the homozygous recessive genotype (ss) for all their offspring to express the recessive rough kernel phenotype in corn. In the context of pea plants, a Punnett square with 16 squares would be needed to analyze the cross of RrYY and rrYy, and the genotype of a round pea plant can't be determined from three round pea offspring without further crossing.

Step-by-step explanation:

If we want progeny (offspring) that display only rough kernel phenotype in corn, which is recessive, both parents must have the genotype that provides this trait. In genetics, a recessive trait, like the rough kernel in corn, is only expressed when the individual has two copies of the recessive allele. Therefore, if 100% of the offspring have rough kernels, it means both parents carried two copies of the recessive allele, making their genotypes homozygous recessive (ss).

In a different example, considering pea plants where the round seed shape (R) is dominant to wrinkled seed shape (r), a cross between RrYY and rrYy would require a Punnett square with 16 squares to analyze the possible genotypes and phenotypes of the offspring. When conducting a test cross where one parent has a known recessive genotype (rr) and the other parent has an unknown genotype but a dominant phenotype (round seeds), the appearance of any offspring with a recessive phenotype would indicate that the unknown parent was heterozygous (Rr). If all offspring have round peas, you cannot confirm the genotype of the unknown parent without further crossing.

User Flonk
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