Question

3. Two red-eyed dragons have a green-eyed offspring. Use a Punnett square as evidence for how that’s possible. Explain what eye color you expect their next offspring to have, including the probability of that outcome happening.

Answer 1

To understand how two red-eyed dragons can have a green-eyed offspring, we can use a Punnett square to demonstrate the inheritance patterns of eye color.

Let's assume that eye color is determined by a single gene with two alleles:
- Let **R** represent the allele for red eyes (dominant).
- Let **r** represent the allele for green eyes (recessive).

If both parent dragons have red eyes but can produce a green-eyed offspring, they must be heterozygous for the eye color trait, meaning they possess one allele for red eyes and one allele for green eyes. Therefore, both parents have the genotype **Rr**.

### Punnett Square Setup

Here’s the Punnett square for the Rr x Rr cross:

```
R r
----------------
R | RR | Rr |
----------------
r | Rr | rr |
----------------
```

### Outcomes from the Punnett Square:

1. **RR (Red eyes)** - Probability: 1 out of 4 (25%)
2. **Rr (Red eyes)** - Probability: 2 out of 4 (50%)
3. **rr (Green eyes)** - Probability: 1 out of 4 (25%)

### Explanation of Offspring Color

From this Punnett square:
- There is a **25% probability** that the offspring will have **RR** (red eyes),
- A **50% probability** the offspring will be **Rr** (red eyes),
- A **25% probability** the offspring will be **rr** (green eyes).

Thus, the next offspring of the two red-eyed dragons (both Rr) could potentially be green-eyed, with a probability of 25%.

In summary, while both parents display the dominant trait (red eyes), they can still pass on the recessive allele (for green eyes), leading to a 25% chance of producing a green-eyed offspring.