What is the probability of having a litter of six with the combination of four pups with black fur and two pups with white fur?
The probability of having a litter of six with four black fur pups and two white fur pups, when two heterozygous black dogs are mated, is 2/3.
Understanding Genetics and Fur Color Inheritance
In dogs, black fur color is dominant to white fur. Two heterozygous black dogs are mated, each carrying one dominant allele (B) for black fur and one recessive allele (b) for white fur.
When these two heterozygous black dogs are mated, their offspring can inherit different combinations of alleles resulting in various fur colors. To determine the probability of having a litter of six with four black fur pups and two white fur pups, we can use a Punnett square to predict the possible outcomes.
Punnett Square Analysis
When we cross two heterozygous black dogs (Bb x Bb):
- The possible genotypes of the offspring are: BB, Bb, and bb.
- The corresponding phenotypes (fur colors) are: black (BB, Bb) and white (bb).
- The Punnett square shows that out of the six possible genotypes:
- 2 offspring will have genotype BB (black fur)
- 4 offspring will have genotype Bb (black fur)
- 0 offspring will have genotype bb (white fur)
Calculating the Probability
- Out of the six possible genotypes, 4 have black fur and 2 have white fur.
- Therefore, the probability of having a litter of six with four black fur pups and two white fur pups is 2/3 or approximately 66.67%.
Understanding genetics and inheritance patterns can help predict the likelihood of certain traits appearing in offspring. For further learning on genetics and inheritance, you can explore additional resources or seek assistance from genetics experts.