Predict the F₁ and F₂ results of crossing a male fowl that is cock-feathered with a true-breeding hen-feathered female fowl. Recall that these traits are sex limited.

Key Concepts

Sex-Linked Traits

Sex-linked traits are characteristics that are associated with genes located on sex chromosomes. In many species, including fowl, these traits can exhibit different patterns of inheritance based on the sex of the individual. For example, in chickens, the gene for feather type is located on the Z chromosome, leading to distinct inheritance patterns in males and females.

True-Breeding

True-breeding refers to organisms that consistently pass down specific phenotypic traits to their offspring when mated with another true-breeding individual of the same phenotype. In this context, a true-breeding hen-feathered female fowl will produce offspring that all exhibit the hen-feathered trait when crossed with another true-breeding individual of the same type.

F₁ and F₂ Generations

The F₁ generation is the first filial generation resulting from a cross between two parental (P) individuals, while the F₂ generation is produced by interbreeding individuals from the F₁ generation. Analyzing the phenotypic ratios in these generations helps predict inheritance patterns and understand how traits are expressed in subsequent generations, especially when dealing with sex-limited traits.