Question

in a group of guppies, some individuals have a spotted tail and others have an unspotted tail. in this group, the gene for the tail spots trait has two alleles. the allele i is for a spotted tail, and the allele i is for an unspotted tail.
snapper, a guppy from this group, has an unspotted tail. snapper has two alleles for an unspotted tail.
based on this information, click the blue words to correct any errors in the text.
snappers genotype for the tail spots gene is ii.
snapper is heterozygous for the tail spots gene.
snappers genotype for the tail spots trait is an unspotted tail.

Explanation:

• For the first statement: Since \(I\) is for spotted tail and \(i\) for unspotted tail, and Snapper has two alleles for unspotted tail, its genotype should be \(ii\) (not \(II\)).
• For the second statement: Heterozygous means having two different alleles (\(Ii\)). But Snapper has two of the same alleles (\(ii\)), so it is homozygous (not heterozygous).
• For the third statement: Genotype refers to the genetic makeup (\(ii\)), while an unspotted tail is the phenotype (the observable trait).

Answer:

• "Snapper's genotype for the tail spots gene is \(II\)" should be corrected to "Snapper's genotype for the tail spots gene is \(ii\)".
• "Snapper is heterozygous for the tail spots gene" should be corrected to "Snapper is homozygous for the tail spots gene".
• "Snapper's genotype for the tail spots trait is an unspotted tail" should be corrected to "Snapper's phenotype for the tail spots trait is an unspotted tail".