A male mouse with brown fur color is mated to two different female mice with black fur. Black female 1 produces a litter of 9 black and 7 brown pups. Black female 2 produces 14 black pups.

What is the mode of inheritance of black and brown fur color in mice?

Key Concepts

Mendelian Inheritance

Mendelian inheritance refers to the principles of heredity established by Gregor Mendel, which include the concepts of dominant and recessive traits. In this context, the fur color in mice is likely governed by these principles, where one color (black) may be dominant over the other (brown). Understanding these basic inheritance patterns is crucial for analyzing the offspring's phenotypes.

Genotype and Phenotype

The genotype is the genetic makeup of an organism, while the phenotype is the observable physical traits resulting from the genotype and environmental influences. In this question, the phenotypes of the pups (black and brown fur) provide insight into the underlying genotypes of the parent mice, which is essential for determining the mode of inheritance.

Punnett Square

A Punnett square is a diagram used to predict the genetic outcomes of a cross between two organisms. It helps visualize the possible combinations of alleles from the parents, allowing for the determination of expected ratios of offspring phenotypes. Utilizing a Punnett square can clarify the inheritance patterns observed in the litters produced by the black female mice.