When crossing organisms that are heterozygous for two traits, the result is a dihybrid cross.

AaBb x AaBb

Possible offspring: 1 AABB, 1 aaBB, 1 AAbb, 1 aabb, 2 Aabb, 2 aaBb, 2 AaBB, 2 AABb, 4 AaBb

The phenotypic ratio of a heterozygous dihybrid cross for autosomal (none-sex-linked) traits is always 9:3:3:1. Nine offspring will show both dominant traits (AABB, AaBB, AABb, AaBb). Three offspring will show dominance for one trait and recessiveness for the other (Aabb, AAbb) and three offspring will show the reciprocal (aaBb, aaBB). Only one offspring will be recessive for both traits (aabb). For this cross, nine mice will have black fur and brown eyes, three will have black fur and blue eyes, three will have brown fur and brown eyes, and one will have brown fur and blue eyes.

When crossing organisms that are heterozygous for two traits, the result is a dihybrid cross.

AaBb x AaBb

Possible offspring: 1 AABB, 1 aaBB, 1 AAbb, 1 aabb, 2 Aabb, 2 aaBb, 2 AaBB, 2 AABb, 4 AaBb

The phenotypic ratio of a heterozygous dihybrid cross for autosomal (none-sex-linked) traits is always 9:3:3:1. The genotype in this question, Aabb, corresponds to black fur and blue eyes. Two mice out of every sixteen will have this genotype.

When crossing organisms that are heterozygous for two traits, the result is a dihybrid cross.

AaBb x AaBb

Possible offspring: 1 AABB, 1 aaBB, 1 AAbb, 1 aabb, 2 Aabb, 2 aaBb, 2 AaBB, 2 AABb, 4 AaBb

The phenotypic ratio of a heterozygous dihybrid cross for autosomal (none-sex-linked) traits is always 9:3:3:1. The genotype in this question, AaBb, corresponds to black fur and brown eyes. Four mice out of every sixteen will have this genotype.

When crossing organisms that are heterozygous for two traits, the result is a dihybrid cross.

AaBb x AaBb

Possible offspring: 1 AABB, 1 aaBB, 1 AAbb, 1 aabb, 2 Aabb, 2 aaBb, 2 AaBB, 2 AABb, 4 AaBb

The phenotypic ratio of a heterozygous dihybrid cross for autosomal (none-sex-linked) traits is always 9:3:3:1. Nine offspring will show both dominant traits (AABB, AaBB, AABb, AaBb). Three offspring will show dominance for one trait and recessiveness for the other (Aabb, AAbb) and three offspring will show the reciprocal (aaBb, aaBB). Only one offspring will be recessive for both traits (aabb). For this cross, nine mice will have black fur and brown eyes, three will have black fur and blue eyes, three will have brown fur and brown eyes, and one will have brown fur and blue eyes. A total of four mice will carry bb and be recessive for eye color.

When crossing organisms that are heterozygous for two traits, the result is a dihybrid cross.

AaBb x AaBb

Possible offspring: 1 AABB, 1 aaBB, 1 AAbb, 1 aabb, 2 Aabb, 2 aaBb, 2 AaBB, 2 AABb, 4 AaBb

The phenotypic ratio of a heterozygous dihybrid cross for autosomal (none-sex-linked) traits is always 9:3:3:1. Nine offspring will show both dominant traits (AABB, AaBB, AABb, AaBb). Three offspring will show dominance for one trait and recessiveness for the other (Aabb, AAbb) and three offspring will show the reciprocal (aaBb, aaBB). Only one offspring will be recessive for both traits (aabb). For this cross, nine mice will have black fur and brown eyes, three will have black fur and blue eyes, three will have brown fur and brown eyes, and one will have brown fur and blue eyes. A total of twelve mice will carry an A allele and be dominant for fur color.

The best choice is that the individual has a mutation that accounts for his/her green eyes. This mutation would yield a new phenotype that was not a result of direct inheritance from the parent generation.

Codominance cannot only occur in one individual offspring; rather it would occur in some form in all offspring with respect to the given trait. Independent assortment always occurs in cases of typical Mendelian genetics. 

If either parent were homozygous dominant, all offspring would exhibit the dominant phenotype and the second phenotype would not be expressed.

Homozygous parent cross: RR x r_

Offspring: all offspring inherit a dominant R allele and will express the dominant phenotype.

If two heterozygotes are crossed, all three genotypes will be expressed, so all possible phenotypes will be expressed.

Both heterozygous: Rr x Rr

Offspring: 1 RR, 2 Rr, 1 rr with both dominant and recessive phenotypes expressed in a 3:1 ratio.

If one heterozygote and one homozygote are crossed the offspring will show only two genotypes, but both possible phenotypes.

One heterozygote: Rr x rr

Offspring: half Rr and half rr, with half showing dominant phenotype and half showing recessive phenotype.

The second and third examples give rise to both colors of offspring, regardless of which allele is dominant. The first example only shows the dominant phenotype, can cannot be possible for this question.

Biologists use a diagram called a Punnett square to aid them in predicting traits that will be inherited by offspring. In this case both parents are heterozygous, meaning that they both carry one dominant allele (W) and one recessive allele (w). The Punnett square for this cross would look like this:

Because the W allele is dominant, squares with a W will produce the large wing trait. Three of the four possible genotypes from this cross carry the dominant allele, meaning that 75% of the offspring will have large wings. If the parents produce sixteen offspring, then twelve of them will show the large wing phenotype.

The trait that is expressed in heterozygotes is the dominant allele. Thus, the normal plant must be homozygous recessive. If dwarfism was a recessive trait, it would not be expressed in the heterozygotes.

A genotype is the genetic makeup on an organism, while a phenotype is the composite of an organism’s observable traits. In short, the genotype determines the phenotype. The phenotype can also include any other observable traits, such as morphology, development, biochemical or physiological properties, phenology, behavior, and products of behavior. Environmental factors can also affect the phenotype of an organism (in addition to the inherited genotype).