Discussion:
Dihybrid Cross using Mendelian Genetics
A scientist studying diploid pea plants is interested in two particular traits of the plant: pea color and pea texture. From previous studies, the scientist knows these traits to be genetically unlinked; therefore, these traits follow the Mendelian principles of segregation and independent assortment. The scientist also knows that peas are either phenotypically green or yellow in color, with green being genotypically dominant to yellow. Peas are also either smooth or wrinkled in texture, with smooth being genotypically dominant to wrinkled. Therefore, there are four possible phenotypic combinations of these two traits in peas: green smooth peas, yellow smooth peas, green wrinkled peas, and yellow wrinkled peas.
The scientist decides to self-pollinate a pea plant that is a dihybrid for the two traits of interest. Using the principles of Mendelian genetics, determine the predicted phenotypic and genotypic ratios of the resulting progeny.