Genotype and Gametes: Understanding Genetic Inheritance

What genotypes should the gametes of a plant with genotype SsYy have?

A. Ss and Yy

B. SY and sy

C. SY, Sy, sY, and sy

D. Ss, Yy, SY and sy

E. SS, ss, YY, and yy

Answer:

The gametes of a plant with genotype SsYy should have the genotypes SY, Sy, sY, and sy.

In genetics, the genotype of an organism represents the combination of alleles it carries for specific genes. When it comes to a plant with the genotype SsYy, it means that the plant is heterozygous for both genes. This implies that it carries one dominant allele (S or Y) and one recessive allele (s or y) for each gene.

During the process of meiosis, which is the cell division that produces gametes, the alleles segregate independently. This separation results in the random distribution of alleles into different gametes. For a plant with the genotype SsYy, this means that the gametes should have the following genotypes: SY, Sy, sY, and sy.

Understanding the genotypes of gametes is crucial in predicting the outcomes of genetic crosses and studying inheritance patterns. It allows researchers to determine the possible combinations of alleles that offspring can inherit from their parents.