F2 Generation Outcomes

So whatever happened in the F2 generation?

As we know from our first punett square, each of the offspring had the genotype Tt, which would appear as tall because the T masks the t.

Mendel then allowed this offspring to self-pollinate, or have the offspring's anthers (male organ) to ferilize the stigma (female organ). This would cause the same genotype to be mixed:

      T    t
T  TT  Tt
t   Tt    tt

WOAH. The four offspring have quite a mix of genotypes, including the homozygous (the same type of allele) dominant, the homozygous recessive, and the heterozygous (one of each type of allele). The same rule applies though, the dominant trait (at least in this case) will always show over the recessive. So, if you look at all of your options from the offspring, they are the following:

TT- Homozygous dominant,, will appear as tall
Tt- Heterozygous, will appear as tall
Tt- Heterozygous, will appear as tall
tt- Homozygous recessive, will appear as short.

This explains how the second generation of Mendel's appeared 75% with the dominant trait, tall, and 25% the recessive trait, and sums up the basics of genetics that Mendel found.

Gotta go. More basics tomorrow!