Posts by shegeki

  • Suggestion: [Alleles and Punnett squares]

    Name: Alleles and Punnett squares - a more realistic breeding style for plants


    Description:
    Exactly what it sounds like. For those unfamiliar with alleles and Punnett squares, what I'm talking about is dominant/recessive traits for the plants. For instance, let's say the allele for tall plants was recessive (t), and the allele for short plants was dominant (T).
    Plant Z has the genotype Tt - meaning that it is a short plant, but when bred with another Plant Z (that is also Tt) there would be a 1/4th chance of a Plant Z that was tt - a taller plant of the same species. The method for figuring this out can be done with probability, but I like Punnett squares personally.


    I don't know how to make tables in this forum, so forgive me if this is difficult to follow.
    When two Heterozygous (Tt) plants are crossed (bred) the square would be as follows

    (ignore the periods, they are there because apparently this editor doesn't like to keep extra space's where I put them.)
    ...|T | t |
    ----------------------------------
    T | TT| Tt |
    --------------------------------------
    t | Tt | tt |


    This produces a 1:2:1 genotype ratio - TT (1/4 chance of this seed) would be a short plant that would donate two of the T (shortness) allele to offspring.
    Tt (2/4 chance of this seed) would be a short plant, but would have both the T (shortness) and the t (tallness) allele to donate to offspring. tt (1/4 chance of this seed) would be a tall plant, that would donate two of the t (tallness) allele to offspring.


    The Phenotype ratio (how it looks) would be 3:1 - 3/4ths of the offspring would be short, and 1/4th would be tall. This could apply to various other traits, such as color, ability to survive in certain biomes, how fast the plant grows, and really any other form of trait.


    This would give a little more challenge to breeding the 'best' plants - have the advantageous or desirable trait be recessive, and the less desirable trait be dominant.


    I hope that this idea won't be shot down immediately, as this is something I'd love to see happen. If this idea is taken under consideration and clarification is required, just ask, I'd be happy to help.


    Edit: trying to make the square less format issue-y ?(