Punnett Squares

In science class, we are learning about punnett squares. Punnett squares are grids that have the combination from specific alleles from the parents of the offspring to find the gene of the offspring. The parents alleles' are multiplied together to form a punnett square and predict the outcome of the gene of the offspring. Punnett squares are very resourceful. Scientists and doctors use these punnett squares frequently to figure out the probable outcomes of the F1 generation. Then when the F1 generation is crossed with another parent, the F2 generation gets the combination of the alleles from the parents.

In punnett squares, more specifically monohybrid punnett squares, the alleles for each parent are multiplied to find the outcome of the gene for the offspring. We call this the phenotype. The phenotype is the physical characteristics of the offspring. For example, if the dominant allele is brown eyes and the recessive allele is blue eyes, and the parents have the alleles Bb and bb. The phenotype of the offspring would be 50% brown eyes and 50% blue eyes. Then, there is the genotype. The genotype is the genetic characteristics. In this case, the genotype for the offspring would be 50% Bb, or heterozygous, and 50% bb, or homozygous recessive. These are the basics about punnett squares but feel free to learn more about them.