In fruit flies, a specific gene mutation causes the wings to become malformed. These wings are called vestigial because they do not function properly. The mutated allele for vestigial wings (v) is recessive to the allele for functioning wings (V). Two fruit flies that are heterozygous for wing shape are crossed, resulting in many offspring.

Question

In fruit flies, a specific gene mutation causes the wings to become malformed. These wings are called vestigial because they do not function properly. The mutated allele for vestigial wings (v) is recessive to the allele for functioning wings (V). Two fruit flies that are heterozygous for wing shape are crossed, resulting in many offspring.

Which of the following would most likely describe the population of offspring?
A.
The majority of the offspring population has vestigial wings.

B.
The majority of the offspring population has functioning wings.

C.
All of the offspring population have functioning wings.

D.
About half of the offspring population has functioning wings, and the other half of the population has vestigial wings.

Answer 1

D. About half of the offspring population has functioning wings, and the other half of the population has vestigial wings.

This is consistent with the principles of Mendelian inheritance, where the offspring of a heterozygous cross will have a 1:2:1 ratio of genotypes and a 3:1 ratio of phenotypes.