Question

in a group of leopards, some individuals have a spotted coat and others have a black coat. in this group, the gene for the coat pattern trait has two alleles. the allele a is for a spotted coat, and the allele a is for a black coat.
nero, a leopard from this group, has a black coat. nero has two alleles for a black coat.
based on this information, click the blue words to correct any errors in the text.
nero is heterozygous for the coat pattern gene.
neros genotype for the coat pattern trait is a spotted coat.
neros phenotype for the coat pattern gene is aa.
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Explanation:

• Nero's genotype for the coat pattern trait: Since Nero has a black coat and the allele \( a \) is for a black coat, and Nero is heterozygous (has two different alleles), the genotype should be \( Aa \) (not \( AA \) as \( AA \) would be homozygous for spotted).
• Nero's phenotype for the coat pattern gene: As Nero has a black coat (allele \( a \) is for black), the phenotype is black coat (not spotted as \( A \) is for spotted and he has the \( a \) allele expressed).

Answer:

• Nero's genotype for the coat pattern trait: \( Aa \)
• Nero's phenotype for the coat pattern gene: Black coat