1. What is a Punnett Square?

A Punnett square is a diagram that is used to predict the genotype and phenotype combinations of offspring from parental alleles. It provides a simple way to visualize Mendelian inheritance patterns.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Punnett square principle:

Where:

• Parent 1 alleles — Two alleles (e.g., Aa)
• Parent 2 alleles — Two alleles (e.g., aa)

Explanation: The calculator combines each allele from parent 1 with each allele from parent 2 to generate all possible genotype combinations.

3. Importance of Punnett Squares

Details: Punnett squares are fundamental in genetics for predicting inheritance patterns, understanding dominant/recessive traits, and calculating probabilities of specific genotypes in offspring.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter two alleles for each parent (e.g., AA, Aa, aa). Capital letters typically represent dominant alleles while lowercase represents recessive alleles.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between genotype and phenotype?
A: Genotype is the genetic makeup (e.g., Aa), while phenotype is the physical expression of traits (e.g., brown eyes).

Q2: How do I represent dominant and recessive alleles?
A: Typically, capital letters (A) represent dominant alleles and lowercase (a) represent recessive alleles.

Q3: Can this calculator handle multiple genes?
A: This version calculates single-gene (monohybrid) crosses. For multiple genes, a dihybrid cross (4x4 square) would be needed.

Q4: What about incomplete dominance or codominance?
A: This calculator assumes complete dominance. Special notation would be needed for other inheritance patterns.

Q5: How accurate are Punnett square predictions?
A: They show probabilities, not certainties. Actual offspring ratios may vary due to random chance in fertilization.