In a Punnett square, what does each cell represent?

• A. The possible genotypes of offspring
• B. The phenotypic ratios of offspring
• C. The alleles contributed by each parent
• D. The probability of species survival

Answer: (A)

In a Punnett square, each cell represents the possible genotypes of offspring that can result from the combination of alleles contributed by each parent. When you set up a Punnett square, you list the alleles of one parent along the top and the alleles of the other parent along the side. Each cell then represents a unique combination of these alleles, indicating what genotype the offspring could potentially inherit.

This method is a fundamental tool in genetics because it allows for a visual representation of the probability of various outcomes from a cross between two individuals. It does not directly indicate the phenotypic ratios of the offspring or the specific alleles contributed by each parent; instead, it focuses on the combinations of those alleles that lead to different genotypic outcomes. Furthermore, it is not related to the broader concept of species survival, which is not a function of a single cross between two individuals.