Exploring Mendel's Genetic Discoveries in Pea Plants

Which Punnett square shows crosses between plants heterozygous for smooth seeds and homozygous recessive for wrinkled seeds?

a. s s s ss ss s ss ss

b. S s S SS Ss s Ss ss

c. S s s Ss ss s Ss ss

d. S S S SS SS s Ss Ss

Answer:

The correct Punnett square that shows crosses between plants heterozygous for smooth seeds (Ss) and homozygous recessive for wrinkled seeds (ss) is option c.

In pea plants, Mendel discovered that the allele for smooth seeds (S) is dominant, while the allele for wrinkled seeds (s) is recessive. An allele can be described as one of two or more alternative forms of a gene. When parents with heterozygous smooth seeds (Ss) are crossed with parents possessing purebred recessive wrinkled seeds (ss), the offspring can have genotypes Ss, ss, Ss, and ss.

Therefore, the Punnett square provided in option c correctly represents this genetic condition. It shows the possible combinations of alleles that can result from the cross between the two types of parent plants.