To assess Mendel's law of segregation using tomatoes, a true-breeding tall variety (SS) is crossed with a true-breeding short variety (ss). The heterozygous F₁ tall plants (Ss) were crossed to produce two sets of F₂ data, as follows. Set I Set II _ 30 tall 300 tall 5 short 50 short From the above analysis, what can you conclude about the importance of generating large datasets in experimental conditions?

Key Concepts

Mendel's Law of Segregation

Mendel's Law of Segregation states that during the formation of gametes, the two alleles for a trait separate, so that each gamete carries only one allele for each gene. This principle explains how offspring inherit one allele from each parent, leading to predictable ratios of traits in the offspring, as seen in the F₂ generation of the tomato cross.

Sample Size and Statistical Significance

A larger sample size in genetic experiments increases the reliability of the results and helps to minimize the effects of random variation. In the context of the tomato cross, larger datasets (like Set II) provide more accurate estimates of phenotypic ratios, allowing for better statistical analysis and conclusions about inheritance patterns.

Phenotypic Ratios

Phenotypic ratios represent the relative frequencies of different phenotypes in the offspring resulting from a genetic cross. In this case, the observed ratios of tall to short plants in the F₂ generation can be analyzed to confirm Mendelian inheritance patterns, highlighting the importance of large datasets to achieve ratios that align closely with expected Mendelian ratios.