CAIE A Level Biology 9700 · Inheritance

Inheritance: describe question

Describe6 marksChallenge

In a species of tropical fish, fin colour is controlled by a single gene with two codominant alleles: C^R (red) and C^W (white). Fish that are homozygous for C^R have red fins, those homozygous for C^W have white fins, and heterozygotes have both red and white patches (mottled fins). A breeder performed a cross between two mottled fish and obtained the following offspring:

PhenotypeNumber of offspring
Red22
Mottled48
White30

Describe the inheritance pattern of fin colour in this fish. Include in your answer the expected genotype and phenotype ratios from a cross between two mottled fish, and comment on whether the observed results are consistent with the expected ratio.

0 words · 6 marks

No account needed for your first marks. Your answer is used only to mark it.

How this question is marked

6 marks, so the mark scheme is looking for about 6 separate creditworthy points. Making the same point twice in different words earns it once.

Describe means: Say what happens or what something is like, in order and with detail. You are not being asked why. If there is data, quote it: name the trend, then give figures with units at the points where it changes.

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