Mendel crossed yellow-seeded and green-seeded pea plants and then allowed the offspring to self-pollinate to produce an F₂ generation. The results were as follows: 6,022 yellow and 2,001 green (8,023 total). Which of the following statements correctly describes the relationship of the allele for green seeds to the allele for yellow seeds?
A) The green allele is dominant to the yellow allele.
B) The two alleles exhibit incomplete dominance.
C) The green allele is recessive to the yellow allele.
D) The two alleles are codominant.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The ratio of yellow to green offspring in the F₂ generation is 3:1, which is consistent with Mendelian genetics if the allele for green seeds is recessive to the allele for yellow seeds. Therefore, the correct answer is choice C, and not A or D, which would indicate equal or dominant expression of the green allele. Choice B, incomplete dominance, would produce a different ratio in the F₂ generation.

Mendel Crossed Yellow-Seeded and Green-Seeded Pea Plants and Then Allowed