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UNIT 05 / REVIEW

Mendelian inheritance and probability

Alleles segregate into gametes. For independent events, multiply probabilities for “and” and add mutually exclusive outcomes for “or.”

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01 / Mendelian inheritance and probability

Mendelian inheritance and probability

In an Aa × Aa cross with complete dominance, expected genotypes are 1 AA : 2 Aa : 1 aa and phenotypes are 3 dominant : 1 recessive. These are probabilities over many offspring, not a quota for every family. A testcross pairs an individual showing a dominant phenotype with a homozygous recessive individual. Independent assortment of two loci supports multiplying their separate probabilities; linkage can invalidate that shortcut. Conditional questions change the group being considered.

MAKE IT CONCRETE

Among offspring of Aa × Aa that show the dominant phenotype, 2/3 are expected to be Aa because the aa offspring have been excluded.

DON’T FALL FOR THIS

Dominant does not mean common, stronger, or selectively favored. It describes a heterozygote phenotype.

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Original review notes informed by standard biology principles. Check the official AP Biology framework ↗ and OpenStax Biology 2e ↗ for further reading.