Consider the cross AaBbCC×AABbCc.

Use the forked-line method to predict the expected ratio of offspring phenotypes.

Key Concepts

Forked-Line Method

The forked-line method is a visual tool used in genetics to predict the genotypic and phenotypic ratios of offspring from a genetic cross. It involves drawing lines to represent different alleles from each parent, allowing for a systematic combination of alleles. This method simplifies the process of calculating probabilities for multiple traits by breaking down the cross into manageable parts.

Dihybrid Cross

A dihybrid cross involves two traits, each represented by two alleles, allowing for the study of inheritance patterns of two genes simultaneously. In the given cross, AaBbCC × AABbCc, the traits are determined by two genes with multiple alleles. Understanding how these alleles assort independently according to Mendel's laws is crucial for predicting the offspring's phenotypes.

Phenotypic Ratio

The phenotypic ratio refers to the relative frequencies of different phenotypes in the offspring resulting from a genetic cross. It is derived from the combinations of alleles that express observable traits. In this case, calculating the expected phenotypic ratio involves determining how the alleles from both parents combine and manifest in the offspring's traits.