What is a trait?
A trait is an observable characteristic of an organism. The observed form of a trait is determined by genetic factors, environmental factors or sometimes both. When genetic factors are involved, we say the trait can be inherited, meaning that it is transmitted from parents to children in the sequence of DNA. A single gene controls some traits, while many genes control others.
A. A characteristic. 8. Change ‘co-dominant’ to the standard spelling — codominant. 9. Add to definition of ‘homozygous’ — The genes may be either two copies of the normal allele or two copies of a mutant allele. 10. Add to the definition of ‘heterozygous’ — The genes may be a normal allele and a mutant allele, or they may be different mutant alleles. 11. Applications, Q 1 — The genotype of an amelanistic corn is pretty obvious. The answer would be correct if “Can I tell” in the question is changed to “Can I always tell”. And ‘trait’ should be changed to ‘mutant gene’. A trait is a difference from the wild type phenotype, not a mutant gene. 12. Applications, Q 2 — Put the superscripts back in the gene symbols. 13. Applications, Q 3 — This is the probability that a given hatchling would be a particular genotype, not a given egg. The answer needs some work, in my opinion. I figure that, as 3/4 of all the babies from the cross are expected to be normal, then 1/2 of 3/4 of the normal
