Question

This Punnett square shows what happens when two brown mice (Ff) mate. If these two mice have only one offspring, what can you conclude about the color of its fur?



A

It will have fur because both parents are brown

B

It is more likely to have brown fur than white fur

C

It is equally likely to have brown fur or white fur

D

It will have a combination of brown fur and white fur

Answer 1

To analyze the situation, we need to understand the genotypes of the brown mice (Ff) and what the Punnett square would show for their offspring.

Here are the possible genotypes from two Ff mice:

- F (brown fur) from the first parent can combine with F (brown fur) from the second parent: FF (homozygous brown)
- F (brown fur) from the first parent can combine with f (white fur) from the second parent: Ff (heterozygous brown)
- f (white fur) from the first parent can combine with F (brown fur) from the second parent: Ff (heterozygous brown)
- f (white fur) from the first parent can combine with f (white fur) from the second parent: ff (homozygous white)

So, the possible genotypes of the offspring are:

- 1 FF (brown fur)
- 2 Ff (brown fur)
- 1 ff (white fur)

From this Punnett square, we can conclude:
- There are 3 brown fur outcomes (FF and Ff) and 1 white fur outcome (ff).

This means that the probability of the offspring having brown fur is 75% (3 out of 4) and the probability of it having white fur is 25% (1 out of 4).

Considering this information, the correct conclusion if these two brown mice have only one offspring would be:

**B. It is more likely to have brown fur than white fur.**