1. What is a Punnett Square?

A Punnett Square is a diagram that predicts the possible genotypes of offspring from two parents. It's named after Reginald Punnett who developed this approach. The square shows all possible combinations of parental alleles.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the probability formula:

Where:

• \( P \) — Probability (0 to 1)
• \( F \) — Number of favorable outcomes
• \( T \) — Total number of possible outcomes

Explanation: The calculator creates a 2×2 grid showing all possible allele combinations from both parents, then counts how many match your desired outcome.

3. Understanding Genetic Probability

Details: Each parent contributes one allele (A or a) to their offspring. Dominant alleles (A) mask recessive alleles (a) in the phenotype.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Select genotypes for both parents (AA, Aa, or aa) and choose your desired outcome (genotype or phenotype). The calculator will show the probability and a visual Punnett Square.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between genotype and phenotype?
A: Genotype is the genetic makeup (AA, Aa, aa). Phenotype is the physical trait (A = dominant trait, a = recessive trait only when homozygous aa).

Q2: Why are some letters uppercase and some lowercase?
A: Uppercase (A) represents dominant alleles, lowercase (a) represents recessive alleles.

Q3: What does "Aa" mean?
A: This is a heterozygous genotype - one dominant and one recessive allele. The organism will show the dominant trait.

Q4: Can this calculator handle more complex genetics?
A: This simplified version handles single-gene (monohybrid) crosses. Real genetics often involves multiple genes.

Q5: Why do some boxes have two of the same letters?
A: "AA" or "aa" are homozygous genotypes - both alleles are the same. "Aa" is heterozygous with different alleles.