How Can We Use Probability To Predict Traits

Question: How can we use probability to predict traits?

Answer: Punnet squares use mathematical probability to help predict the genotype and phenotype combinations in genetic crosses.

Question: Whenever Mendel performed a cross with _____ _______, he carefully categorized and counted the offspring.

Answer: pea plants

Question: Whenever he crossed two plants that were _________ for stem height (Tt), about three fourths of the resulting plants were tall and about one fourth were short.

Answer: hybrid

Question: Mendel realized that the principles of ________________ could be used to explain the results of his genetic crosses.

Answer: probability

Question: _________________ is the likelihood that a particular event will occur.

Answer: Probability

Question: There are two possible outcomes of a coin flip: The coin may land either heads up or tails up. The chance, or probability, of either outcome is..?

Answer: equal

Question: The probability that a single coin flip will land heads up is 1 in 2 chances. This amounts to ____, or ____ percent.

Answer: 1/2, 50

Question: If you flip a coin three times in a row, what is the probability that it will land heads up every time? Each coin flip is an independent event, with a one chance in two probability of landing heads up. Therefore, the probability of flipping heads three times in a row is..?

Answer: 1/8

Question: Past outcomes _______ affect future ones.

Answer: don’t

Question: The way in which alleles segregate during _________ ____________ is every bit as random as a coin flip.

Answer: gamete formation