1. What is a Punnett Square?

The Punnett square is a diagram that is used to predict the genotype and phenotype combinations of offspring from parental alleles. It is named after Reginald C. Punnett, who devised the approach.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Punnett square method:

Where:

• Each parent contributes one allele to the offspring
• Alleles can be dominant (capital letters) or recessive (lowercase)
• The calculator shows all possible combinations and their probabilities

3. Understanding Genotype Probabilities

Details: The calculator shows the exact probability of each genotype combination based on Mendelian inheritance patterns. This is useful for predicting traits in offspring.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips:

• Enter genotypes as two letters (e.g., Aa, BB, cc)
• Capital letters typically represent dominant alleles
• Optionally enter a target genotype to see its specific probability

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 (e.g., brown eyes).

Q2: How do I represent incomplete dominance?
A: Use different letters (e.g., CR for red, CW for white flowers in snapdragons).

Q3: Can this calculator handle multiple genes?
A: This version handles single-gene (monohybrid) crosses. For multiple genes, more complex calculations are needed.

Q4: What about sex-linked traits?
A: Sex-linked traits require special consideration of X and Y chromosomes, which this simple calculator doesn't handle.

Q5: How accurate are these predictions?
A: The calculator shows theoretical probabilities. Actual results may vary due to factors like genetic linkage or mutation.