In a genetics experiment on peas, one sample of offspring contained 386 green peas and 325 yellow peas. Based on those results, estimate the probability of getting an offspring pea that is green. Express your answer as a percentage rounded to the nearest hundredth without the % sign.
The correct answer and explanation is:
To estimate the probability of getting a green pea, we need to divide the number of green peas by the total number of peas in the sample. Here’s the process:
- Determine the total number of peas:
Total number of peas = Number of green peas + Number of yellow peas
Total = 386 + 325 = 711 peas - Calculate the probability of a green pea:
Probability of green pea = Number of green peas / Total number of peas
Probability of green pea = 386 / 711 ≈ 0.542 - Convert the probability to a percentage:
Multiply the decimal by 100 to convert it into a percentage:
0.542 * 100 = 54.24
Thus, the probability of getting a green pea is 54.24.
Explanation:
In genetics, pea color is often studied using Mendelian inheritance patterns, where the ratio of green to yellow peas can give insight into the underlying genetic factors. The green pea trait is typically dominant over the yellow pea trait. The results from this experiment show that, out of 711 peas, approximately 54.24% were green, suggesting that the dominant allele for green peas is expressed in over half of the offspring. This type of calculation can help estimate the likelihood of future offspring inheriting specific traits, given the genetic principles at play.
This approach assumes that the sample is large enough to reflect the true genetic probability, meaning the offspring distribution should align with expected ratios based on Mendel’s laws, provided that the experiment was not influenced by outside factors.