Question

gregor mendel used pea plants that were heterozygous for each of two traits—seed color and seed shape—to generate a dihybrid cross. the phenotypic ratio of the resulting offspring was nine with round and yellow seeds, three with round and green seeds, three with wrinkled and yellow seeds, and one with wrinkled and green seeds. from these results, what could mendel conclude?
traits are inherited as pairs, sets, or groups.
traits that are dominant mask traits that are recessive.
gametes carry one allele for each trait.
traits are passed independently of one another.

Explanation:

Mendel's dihybrid cross (9:3:3:1 phenotypic ratio) shows that the inheritance of one trait (e.g., seed color) does not influence the inheritance of another trait (e.g., seed shape). This is the principle of independent assortment.

• The first option is incorrect as it doesn't explain the dihybrid ratio.
• The second option (dominant - recessive masking) is related to monohybrid crosses (e.g., 3:1 ratio) and doesn't fully explain the dihybrid ratio.
• The third option (gametes carry one allele per trait) is part of the law of segregation (related to monohybrid crosses).

Answer:

Traits are passed independently of one another.