A pea plant that is heterozygous for the flower color gene makes gametes. What is the probability that a specific gamete contains the recessive allele for flower color?

Question

A. 50 percent
B. 75 percent
C. 25 percent
D. 100 percent

Answer 1

C. 25 percent

Since the pea plant is heterozygous (Rr) for the flower color gene, it has one dominant allele (R) and one recessive allele (r). During gamete formation, each allele has an equal chance of being passed on. Therefore, the probability of a specific gamete containing the recessive allele (r) is 1 out of 4 possibilities, or 25 percent.