1. What is a Punnett Square?

A Punnett square is a diagram that is used to predict the genotype and phenotype combinations of offspring from parental alleles. It's a fundamental tool in genetics named after Reginald Punnett.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the probability formula:

Where:

• \( P \) — Probability of target genotype
• \( F \) — Number of favorable outcomes in Punnett square
• \( T \) — Total number of possible outcomes

Explanation: The calculator generates all possible allele combinations from the parents and counts how many match the target genotype.

3. Importance of Punnett Squares

Details: Punnett squares are essential for predicting inheritance patterns, understanding genetic probabilities, and studying Mendelian inheritance.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter valid genotypes for both parents (e.g., AaBb, AAbb) and the target genotype you want to calculate probability for.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between genotype and phenotype?
A: Genotype is the genetic makeup (e.g., Aa), while phenotype is the physical expression (e.g., brown eyes).

Q2: How do I represent alleles in the calculator?
A: Use uppercase for dominant alleles (A) and lowercase for recessive (a). For multiple genes, list them together (e.g., AaBb).

Q3: What's the maximum number of genes this can handle?
A: This calculator can handle dihybrid crosses (2 genes). More complex crosses require specialized tools.

Q4: Can I use this for sex-linked traits?
A: For sex-linked traits, you need to specify parent genders and use X/Y chromosome notation.

Q5: What about incomplete dominance or codominance?
A: These require different calculations as they don't follow strict Mendelian ratios.