How to Determine the Percentage of Offspring with Singing Trait in Canaries

Question:

In canaries, the gene for singing (S) is dominant over the gene for non-singing (s). When hybrid singing canaries are mated with non-singing canaries, what percentage of the offspring is likely to possess the singing trait?

A) 0% B) 25% C) 50% D) 100%

Final answer:

Answer:

When a hybrid singing canary (Ss) is mated with a non-singing canary (ss), 50% of the offspring are expected to have the singing trait. This is determined by constructing a Punnett square and examining the possible gene combinations.

Explanation:

In order to answer your question about the mating of singing and non-singing canaries, it's necessary to do a Punnett square for better understanding. The gene for singing is dominant (S) and non-singing is recessive (s). A hybrid singing canary has both genes (Ss), and a non-singing canary only has recessive genes (ss).

Thus, the Punnett square for would be as follows:

Mother (Ss) and Father (ss)

Ss (offspring with singing trait)

ss (offspring without singing trait)

So, when a hybrid singing canary is mated with a non-singing canary, half, or 50%, of the offspring is expected to possess the singing trait.