A variety of pea plant called Blue Persian produces a tall plant with blue seeds. A second variety of pea plant called Spanish Dwarf produces a short plant with white seed. The two varieties are crossed, and the resulting seeds are collected. All of the seeds are white; and when planted, they produce all tall plants. These tall F₁ plants are allowed to self-fertilize. The results for seed color and plant stature in the F₂ generation are as follows:
     F₂ Plant Phenotype        Number
     Blue seed, tall plant.          97
     White seed, tall plant        270
     Blue seed, short plant        33
     White seed, short plant     100
    TOTAL                                500

Examine the data in the table by the chi-square test and determine whether they conform to expectations of the hypothesis.

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 traits mask the expression of recessive ones. In this scenario, the tall plant trait is likely dominant over the short plant trait, and the white seed trait is dominant over the blue seed trait, influencing the phenotypic ratios observed in the F₂ generation.

Phenotypic Ratios

Phenotypic ratios represent the relative frequencies of different phenotypes in a given generation. In this case, the F₂ generation shows a specific ratio of tall and short plants with blue and white seeds. Analyzing these ratios helps determine if the observed outcomes align with expected Mendelian ratios, which can indicate whether the traits segregate independently or are linked.

Chi-Square Test

The chi-square test is a statistical method used to determine if there is a significant difference between observed and expected frequencies in categorical data. In this context, it will help assess whether the distribution of phenotypes in the F₂ generation fits the expected Mendelian ratios. A high chi-square value may suggest that the observed data do not conform to the hypothesis, while a low value indicates conformity.