Question

Question

Cats have 38 chromosomes, or 19 pairs. Long hair in cats is a recessive trait (s) while short hair is a dominant trait (S). A cat that is heterozygous for short hair (Ss) and a cat that is homozygous for long hair (ss) are a mated pair. There is a 50% chance of an offspring being heterozygous for short hair, and a 50% chance of an offspring being homozygous for long hair. They have a total of 11 offspring, all of which have long hair. Is this possible? Why or why not?(1 point)
Responses

No, with fewer chromosomes than humans, the probabilities would be different.
No, with fewer chromosomes than humans, the probabilities would be different.

Yes, the difference in number of chromosomes would allow this to happen.
Yes, the difference in number of chromosomes would allow this to happen.

No, the 50/50 probabilities mean that at least 50% of the offspring should be homozygous for long hair.
No, the 50/50 probabilities mean that at least 50% of the offspring should be homozygous for long hair.

Yes, the probability of any outcome is independent of prior outcomes

Answer 1

Yes, the probability of any outcome is independent of prior outcomes. In this case, the fact that all 11 offspring have long hair does not negate the possibility of having a 50% chance of each individual offspring having long hair. Each offspring is an independent event, and it is possible, albeit unlikely, for all of them to have long hair.