1. What is a Punnett Square?

A Punnett square is a diagram that predicts the genotype probabilities of offspring from the genotypes of two parents. It's a fundamental tool in Mendelian genetics.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Punnett square method:

Where:

• Parent 1 alleles — Two alleles (e.g., AA, Aa, aa)
• Parent 2 alleles — Two alleles (e.g., BB, Bb, bb)

Explanation: The square combines each allele from one parent with each allele from the other parent to show all possible offspring genotypes.

3. Understanding Genetic Inheritance

Details: Dominant alleles (capital letters) mask recessive alleles (lowercase). Heterozygous (Aa) individuals show the dominant trait but carry the recessive allele.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter two alleles for each parent (e.g., AA, Aa, aa). The calculator shows the Punnett square and genotype probabilities.

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 dominant and recessive alleles?
A: Use capital letters for dominant (A) and lowercase for recessive (a).

Q3: Can this calculator handle multiple genes?
A: This version handles single-gene traits. For dihybrid crosses (two genes), a 4×4 square is needed.

Q4: What about incomplete dominance?
A: This calculator assumes complete dominance. For incomplete dominance, heterozygous phenotypes are intermediate.

Q5: How accurate are Punnett squares?
A: They predict probabilities, not certainties. Actual offspring ratios may vary due to random chance.