Question

in tulips, alleles for purple petals are dominant to alleles for white petals. which of the following explanations best describes what color petals the tulip will have if they inherit one dominant allele for purple petals and one recessive allele for white petals?
a the tulip will be pink petals because the two alleles blend to make a new trait.
b the tulip will have an unknown color of petals because petal color does not have a consistent pattern of inheritance.
c the tulip will have white petals because the allele for white petals is recessive, and the recessive allele always masks the dominant allele.
d the tulip will have purple petals because the allele for purple petals is dominant, and the dominant allele always masks the recessive allele.

Explanation:

In genetics, when one allele is dominant over another, the dominant trait is expressed. Here, purple petal allele is dominant. If a tulip inherits one dominant (purple) and one recessive (white) allele, according to Mendelian genetics (dominance - recessive relationship), the dominant allele's trait (purple petals) will be shown. Option D correctly follows this principle. Option A is about blending (incomplete dominance which is not the case here as it's stated purple is dominant). Option B is incorrect as petal color inheritance has a known pattern (dominance - recessive here). Option C has the dominance - recessive relationship reversed.

Answer:

D. The tulip will have purple petals because the allele for purple petals is dominant, and the dominant allele always masks the recessive allele.