According to the theory of blending inheritance, offspring were expected to be phenotypically relative to their parents, which would dilute any new genetic variants.

Both parents make equal genetic contributions to their children and their genetic material merges together. This is a description of a concept known as inheritance

What pattern of inheritance is determined by offspring having a series of phenotypes

Imagine you are studying the inheritance patterns of hair color and scale color in merpeople (mermaids and mermen). Red hair and green scales are the dominant traits. Although there are many other alleles for both hair color and scale color, black hair and blue scales are the most common recessive hair and scale color alleles, respectively.You find a family in which both parents have red hair and green scales and each are heterozygous for both traits. The parents each have one copy of the red hair and green scale alleles and one copy of the black hair and blue scale alleles. They have 8 children, half male and half female. Nearly all of the children have red hair and green scales like their parents. Of the 8, only 1 male child and 1 female child have different traits and both the these offspring have black hair and blue scales.Question 1Part 1Why is this outcome surprising?ResponsesIf the black hair and blue scales are the most common recessive traits there should be more than 2 offspring with these traits.If the black hair and blue scales are the most common recessive traits there should be more than 2 offspring with these traits.It isn't. The 3:1 ratio of dominant : recessive phenotypes is what we would expect for this cross.It isn't. The 3:1 ratio of dominant : recessive phenotypes is what we would expect for this cross.This cross would be expected to have a 9:3:3:1 ratio of offspring phenotypes.This cross would be expected to have a 9:3:3:1 ratio of offspring phenotypes.The phenotypic ratios should be different in males versus females.The phenotypic ratios should be different in males versus females.Question 2Part 2What is the best explanation for this outcome?ResponsesThe hair color and scale color genes are linked.The hair color and scale color genes are linked.The hair color and scale color genes are being inherited in the expected pattern and no explanation is necessary.The hair color and scale color genes are being inherited in the expected pattern and no explanation is necessary.The hair color and scale color genes are sex-linked.The hair color and scale color genes are sex-linked.The hair color and scale color genes are unlinked.The hair color and scale color genes are unlinked.The data do not reflect the expected phenotypic ratios because this family is not large enough.

Fill in the Blank QuestionFill in the blank question.The pattern of inheritance that deals with genes that segregate and assort independently is described by the term inheritance.

The change in the inherited characteristics of biological populations over successive generations is called