Question 1: Explain in your own words what a Punnett Square is used for in genetics.

Answer: A Punnett Square is a tool used to predict the probability of offspring inheriting particular traits from their parents.

Question 2: Describe how inherited traits can influence a plant's ability to survive in changing climates.

Answer: Inherited traits can determine a plant's tolerance to heat, drought, or cold, affecting its survival as climate conditions change.

Question 1: What does a heterozygous genotype mean?

Answer: It means having two different alleles for a particular gene, one dominant and one recessive.

Question 2: Identify the difference between dominant and recessive alleles.

Answer: A dominant allele masks the effect of a recessive allele when present; a recessive allele's effect is only seen when both alleles are recessive.

Question 1: If a plant with genotype Tt (tolerance to drought) is crossed with a plant with genotype Tt, what is the probability that their offspring will be homozygous dominant (TT)?

Answer: 25%

Question 2: Design a simple Punnett Square for crossing two heterozygous plants with drought tolerance. What are the genotypic and phenotypic ratios?

Answer: Genotypic ratio: 1 TT : 2 Tt : 1 tt; Phenotypic ratio: 3 drought-tolerant : 1 non-tolerant.

Question 3: Identify one variable and one safety precaution to consider when conducting experiments related to inheritance traits in plants affected by climate change.

Answer: Variable: Type of plant or environmental condition; Safety precaution: Handle chemicals or equipment carefully to avoid accidents.

Question 1: A population of plants shows a higher frequency of a gene that confers drought resistance. Explain how this could influence the population's survival as climate change leads to more frequent droughts.

Answer: The increased frequency of drought-resistant genes can improve the population's ability to survive drought conditions, leading to greater resilience and potential adaptation to climate change.

Question 2: In a climate change scenario, how might selective breeding using Punnett Squares help develop crops better suited for future environments?

Answer: Selective breeding using Punnett Squares allows scientists and farmers to predict and choose parent plants with desirable traits, such as drought or heat tolerance. By crossing these plants and analyzing offspring genotypes, they can develop crop varieties that are more resilient to changing climate conditions, ensuring food security and sustainability.