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Title: Exploring Genetics and Inheritance Name: Date: Question 1: a) Define genetics and explain its significance in biology. Answer: Genetics is the study of heredity and variation in living organisms. It explores how traits are passed down from one generation to another through genes. Understanding genetics is crucial in biology as it helps explain the mechanisms behind inherited traits and provides insights into evolution and genetic diseases. b) Differentiate between genotype and phenotype, providing an example for each. Answer: Genotype refers to the genetic makeup of an organism, represented by the alleles it possesses. For example, in a monohybrid cross of pea plants, a genotype could be represented as TT (homozygous dominant) or Tt (heterozygous). Phenotype, on the other hand, is the physical expression of the genetic makeup. For instance, in the case of the pea plants, the phenotype for the trait of flower color could be purple or white. Question 2: a) Explain the principles of Mendelian inheritance.

Answer: Mendelian inheritance follows three principles: the law of segregation, the law of independent assortment, and the law of dominance. The law of segregation states that alleles separate during gamete formation, the law of independent assortment states that alleles of different genes segregate independently during gamete formation, and the law of dominance states that in a heterozygous pair of alleles, one allele can mask the expression of the other. b) Discuss the significance of Punnett squares in understanding genetic inheritance. Answer: Punnett squares are tools used to predict the possible genotypes and phenotypes of offspring in a genetic cross. They provide a visual representation of allele combinations from parental gametes and help determine the probability of certain traits appearing in offspring. Question 3: a) Describe the differences between dominant and recessive traits with examples. Answer: Dominant traits are expressed when at least one dominant allele is present. For instance, in humans, the ability to roll the tongue is a dominant trait (T), while the inability to roll the tongue is a recessive trait (t), expressed only when an individual is homozygous recessive (tt). b) Discuss the concept of incomplete dominance and provide an example. Answer: Incomplete dominance occurs when neither allele is completely dominant over the other, resulting in a phenotype that is a blend of the two alleles. For example, in snapdragons, crossing a red-flowered plant (RR) with a white-flowered plant (WW) produces pink-flowered offspring (RW), showcasing incomplete dominance.

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