Question

in a group of summer squash plants, some individuals have fuzzy leaves and others have smooth leaves. in this group, the gene for the leaf texture trait has two alleles. the allele ( l ) is for fuzzy leaves, and the allele ( l ) is for smooth leaves.
a certain summer squash plant from this group has fuzzy leaves. this plant has one allele for fuzzy leaves and one allele for smooth leaves.
based on this information, click the blue words to correct any errors in the text.
this summer squash plant is homozygous for the leaf texture gene.
this summer squash plants phenotype for the leaf texture trait is smooth leaves.
this summer squash plants phenotype for the leaf texture gene is ( ll ).

Explanation:

• Homozygous: A plant is homozygous when it has two identical alleles for a gene. Since this plant has \(L\) (fuzzy) and \(l\) (smooth) alleles (different alleles), it is heterozygous, not homozygous.
• Smooth leaves: The phenotype is the observable trait. Given that \(L\) (fuzzy) is likely dominant (as the plant has fuzzy leaves with one \(L\) and one \(l\) allele), the phenotype should be fuzzy leaves, not smooth leaves.
• Phenotype for the leaf - texture gene is \(Ll\): Phenotype refers to the observable trait (e.g., fuzzy leaves). \(Ll\) is the genotype (the genetic makeup), not the phenotype.

Answer:

• Change “homozygous” to “heterozygous”.
• Change “smooth leaves” to “fuzzy leaves”.
• Change “phenotype” to “genotype”.