How Do You Work With Punnett Squares?
Punnett Squares are used in Genetics to determine the possible combinations of genes that will occur at fertilization. It consists of squares, which are used to create combinations of genes, such as recessive and dominant. • Begin by drawing up a simple table that has four boxes, two in each column and two in each row. An empty Punnett Square Table. • For example, let’s use the scenario of determining whether someone can roll their tongue. The gene that allows someone to roll their tongue is dominant which means that the individual will be able to roll their tongue even if only one of their alleles codes for tongue rolling. This scenario shows a mating of two individuals that each have one dominant tongue rolling allele and one recessive allele. As each gamete (egg or sperm) only receives one of the two alleles the boxes help us to see the possible combinations that may occur when the possible sperm join with the possible egg, forming a zygote. • Next to each row, and above each column
