Answer:
Step-by-step explanation:
Hypothesis: Assuming that the two genes are independent, the inheritance of one trait should not have a significant effect on the inheritance of the second trait. In this scenario, the inheritance of each trait would be determined by separate sets of alleles and would follow Mendelian laws of inheritance.
If the two genes are independent, the results would be as follows:
1. The inheritance of the first trait would follow Mendelian patterns, such as dominant/recessive or codominant inheritance, unaffected by the second trait.
2. The inheritance of the second trait would also follow Mendelian patterns independently of the first trait.
3. The presence or absence of a particular allele for one trait would not influence the presence or absence of alleles for the other trait.
On the other hand, if the two genes are linked, the inheritance of one trait may have an effect on the inheritance of the second trait due to their physical proximity on the same chromosome. In this case, the results would differ:
1. The two traits would be inherited together more frequently than would be expected by chance if they are located close to each other on the same chromosome.
2. The inheritance of one trait could influence the inheritance of the second trait due to genetic linkage.
3. Recombination events during meiosis could separate the linked genes and lead to independent inheritance, but the frequency of recombination would determine the degree of independence between the traits.
It is important to note that the hypothesis and expected results may vary depending on the specific traits and genes under investigation, as well as the genetic mechanisms involved in their inheritance.