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.

Choose symbols for each allele, and identify the genotypes of the brown male and the two black females.

Key Concepts

Mendelian Genetics

Mendelian genetics is the study of how traits are inherited through generations based on the principles established by Gregor Mendel. It involves understanding dominant and recessive alleles, where dominant alleles mask the expression of recessive ones. In this scenario, the fur color of mice is likely determined by a simple Mendelian trait, where black fur is dominant over brown fur.

Genotype and Phenotype

The genotype refers to the genetic makeup of an organism, while the phenotype is the observable physical or biochemical characteristics. In this case, the brown male mouse's genotype can be inferred from the offspring's phenotypes. The presence of brown pups indicates that the brown male must carry a recessive allele, while the black females' genotypes can be deduced from their offspring's ratios.

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. By using a Punnett square, one can determine the likelihood of producing offspring with specific phenotypes, which is essential for analyzing the mating results of the brown male and the black females in this question.