Complete question:

A geneticist crossed pure breeding black mice with pure breeding brown mice. All the 992
mice in F1 generation had black coats. When these mice were crossed, the yielded 961
black coated mice and 317 brown coated mice. How could you account for the ratio of
black coated to brown coated mice in the F2 generation? Select all that apply
1. The F1 male produced two kinds of sperm, half carrying an allele for black coat
color, and half carrying an allele for brown coat color.
2. The brown allele segregates together with the black allele and disappears in the F1
generation.
3. The F1 female produced two kinds of eggs, half carrying an allele for black coat
color, and half carrying an allele for brown coat color.
4. An approximately three-to-one ratio of black to brown coated mice in the F2
generation is accounted for by the black allele being dominant over the brown
allele.
Answer:
1. The F1 male produced two kinds of sperm, half carrying an allele for black coat
color, and half carrying an allele for brown coat color. APPLIES
2. The brown allele segregates together with the black allele and disappears in the F1
generation. DOES NOT APPLY
3. The F1 female produced two kinds of eggs, half carrying an allele for black coat
color, and half carrying an allele for brown coat color. APPLIES
4. An approximately three-to-one ratio of black to brown coated mice in the F2
generation is accounted for by the black allele being dominant over the brown
allele. APPLIES
Available data:
 Cross 1: pure breeding black mice with pure breeding brown mice.
 The whole F1 had black coats. N = 992 mice
 F2: 961 black coated mice and 317 brown coated mice.
Let us say that the two forms of the gene color are:
 B ---> Dominant allele expressing black
 b ---> Recessive allele expressing brown
1st cross:
Parental) BB x bb
Gametes) B B b b
Punnet square)
B B
b Bb Bb
b Bb Bb
F1) 4/4 = 100% of the progeny are black (heterozygous, Bb)
The whole progeny is heterozygous, which means that they will produce two kinds of
gametes: one of them with the dominant allele B and the other gamete with the recessive
allele b. Hence, the following statement applies
1. The F1 males produce two kinds of sperm, half carrying an allele for black coat
color, and half carrying an allele for brown coat color.
The F1 is heterozygous, which means that they have both alleles (dominant and recessive)
but only express black color. This is because the dominant allele B that codifies for black,
hides the effect of the recessive allele b that codifies for brown. The recessive allele does
not disappear in the F1, but its effects are hidden. Also, alleles are independent from each
other. Hence, the following statement does not apply.
2. The brown allele segregates together with the black allele and
disappears in the F1 generation.
Again, the whole progeny is heterozygous, which means that they will produce two kinds
of gametes: one of them with the dominant allele B and the other gamete with the recessive
allele b. Hence, the following statement also applies
3. The F1 female produced two kinds of eggs, half carrying an allele
for black coat color, and half carrying an allele for brown coat
color.
2nd cross:
Parental) Bb x Bb
Gametes) B b B b
Punnet square)
 B b
B BB Bb
b bB bb
F2) 1/4 = 25% of the progeny are homozygous dominant, BB (Black)
2/4 = 1/2 = 50% of the progeny are heterozygous, Bb (Black)
1/4 = 25% of the progeny are homozygous recessive, bb (BRown)
75% of the progeny are black ( BB + Bb)
25% of the progeny are brown (bb)
Ratio= 3 Black : 1 Brown
The total number of individuals in the F2 is 1278 (961 black coated mice + 317 brown
coated mice).
1278 individuals ----------- 100% of the progeny --------- 4 genotypes
961 black individuals------X = 75% of the progeny ----X = 3 genotypes (BB + Bb + bB)
317 brown individuals-----X = 25% of the progeny ----X = 1 genotype (bb)
Phenotypically speaking, 75% of the progeny are black. This percentage includes 25% BB,
25% Bb and 25% bB. The last 25% corresponds to homozygous recessive individuals bb
expressing brown coat. This is a relation 3:1. Hence, the following statement also applies.
4. An approximately three-to-one ratio of black to brown coated mice
in the F2 generation is accounted for by the black allele being
dominant over the brown allele.