Question

the allele for purple flowers masks the allele for white flowers in pea plants. a true - breeding pea plant with purple flowers is crossed with a true - breeding pea plant with white flowers. which statement reflects evidence of the law of segregation in the offspring? a. the f₁ and f₂ generations are likely to have equal ratios of white - flowered plants to purple - flowered plants. b. the f₁ generation will have only purple - flowered plants, but the f₂ generation is likely to include both white - flowered plants and purple - flowered plants. c. the f₁ generation will include more white - flowered plants than the f₂ generation. d. the f₁ generation will have only white - flowered plants, but the f₂ generation is likely to include both white - flowered plants and purple - flowered plants.

Explanation:

According to Mendel's law of segregation, when true - breeding (homozygous) parents are crossed, the \(F_1\) generation shows the dominant trait (purple flowers in this case as purple allele masks white). In \(F_2\) generation, due to the segregation of alleles during gamete formation, the recessive trait (white flowers) reappears.

Answer:

B. The \(F_1\) generation will have only purple - flowered plants, but the \(F_2\) generation is likely to include both white - flowered plants and purple - flowered plants.