Question

when mendel crossed purebred purple flowering plants (pp) with purebred white flowering plants (pp), what were the flower colors of the resulting offspring?
25 percent white and 75 percent purple
50 percent white and 50 percent purple
100 percent purple
100 percent white

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze the genetics of the cross. Purebred purple plants have genotype \( PP \) (homozygous dominant) and purebred white plants have genotype \( pp \) (homozygous recessive). When we perform a Punnett square for this cross:

• The \( PP \) plant can only produce \( P \) gametes.
• The \( pp \) plant can only produce \( p \) gametes.

When these gametes combine, all offspring will have the genotype \( Pp \). In Mendel's experiments with pea plants, the purple flower color is dominant over white. So, the heterozygous genotype \( Pp \) will express the dominant trait (purple flower color). Thus, all (100 percent) of the offspring will have purple flowers.

Answer:

100 percent purple