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A test cross helps to predict the probable, not actual, outcome of a genetic cross. This is what a Punnet Square is used for. You can cross just one gene, or you can do more complicated crosses that involve many genes.

For example, if your genotype is heterozygous brown eyes and homozygous blonde hair, your spouse has homozygous blue eyes and heterozygous brown hair, and you want to see the chances of your kids having blue or brown eyes and blond or brown hair, you could do a test cross to see all the possibilities.

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The mating of an individual of unknown genotype with one that is homozygous recessive in order to determine the unknown genotype is a?

Test Cross.


What is the name for a cross between an individual of unknown genotype and a homozygous recessive?

A cross between a homozygous recessive and an individual of unknown genotype is called a test cross.The homozygous recessive can only pass on a recessive allele to the offspring, and so any recessive in the other parent will show up in the phenotype (detectable characteristics) of some of the offspring.


To perform a testcross scientists cross an organism with an unknown genotype with a organism.?

If an individual is of the dominant phenotype, its genotype can be either AA or Aa (letter A picked for demonstration's sake). To do a good test cross, we have to be able to unambiguously tell which one of the genotypes the individual is. The best test cross would be conducted with a homozygous recessive (aa) individual. This way, if the cross generates 100% dominant phenotype, then the original individual was homozygous dominant. If the cross generates 50% dominant and 50% recessive phenotype, then the original individual was heterozygous.


If a test cross between a homozygous recessive and heterozygous allele will yield what percent of offspring as homozygous recessive?

A test cross between a homozygous recessive and a heterozygous individual will yield 50% of offspring as homozygous recessive. This is because all the offspring will inherit one recessive allele from the homozygous recessive parent.


Explain why the homozygous recessive would always be used in a test cross?

The homozygous recessive individual is used in a test cross to determine the genotype of an individual with a dominant phenotype but unknown genotype. When crossed with a homozygous recessive individual, if any offspring display the recessive trait, it indicates that the unknown individual is heterozygous for that trait.