In a species of the cat family, eye color can be gray, blue, green, or brown, and each trait is true breeding. In separate crosses involving homozygous parents, the following data were obtained: Cross P₁ F₁ F₂ A green x gray all green 3/4 green: 1/4 gray B green x brown all green 3/4 green: 1/4 brown C. gray x brown. all green 9/16 green: 3/16 brown 3/16 gray: 1/16 blue Analyze the data. How many genes are involved? Define gene symbols and indicate which genotypes yield each phenotype.

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, as well as the segregation and independent assortment of genes during gamete formation. This framework is essential for analyzing inheritance patterns, such as those seen in the eye color crosses provided in the question.

Phenotype and Genotype

The phenotype refers to the observable characteristics of an organism, such as eye color, while the genotype is the genetic makeup that determines these traits. In the context of the question, identifying the genotypes that correspond to each phenotype is crucial for understanding the inheritance patterns and the number of genes involved in the eye color traits of the cat family.

Dihybrid Crosses and Gene Interaction

Dihybrid crosses involve two traits and can reveal how multiple genes interact to produce phenotypes. The data from the crosses suggest that more than one gene may be influencing eye color, as seen in the varying ratios of phenotypes in the F2 generation. Understanding gene interaction is key to determining the number of genes involved and how they contribute to the observed traits.