Punnett Squares

Step-by-Step Overview

Genetics Problems: Punnett Squares

When we have enough information
about two parent organisms, we can
predict the genotype and phenotype
of their offspring

Genetics Problems: Punnett Squares

Remember,
Genotype: genetic composition of an
organism, the actual alleles of each
gene
Phenotype: expression of the gene as a
physical characteristic
Dominant: If dominant allele is present,
it is always expressed
Recessive: Allele only expressed when
homozygous recessive

Punnett Squares: Step by

Step
1. Determine the genotype of the parents
2. Write down the cross
3. Draw the Punnett square
4. Split the parents genotypes into gametes on

the outside of the Punnett square

5. Determine genotypes of offspring
6. Summarize results (genotypes and phenotypes)

Punnett Squares: Step by

Step
1. Determine the genotypes of the parents
from the question
In humans, brown eyes are dominant over blue eyes. What
type of offspring would you expect if you crossed a
heterozygous brown-eyed person to a heterozygous brown
eyed-person?

B = brown eyes (dominant)

b = blue eyes (recessive)

Punnett Squares: Step by

Step
1. Determine the genotypes of the parents
from the question
In humans, brown eyes are dominant over blue eyes. What
type of offspring would you expect if you crossed a
heterozygous brown eyed-person to a heterozygous
brown-eyed person?

B = brown eyes (dominant)

b = blue eyes (recessive)

Punnett Squares: Step by

Step
1. Determine the genotypes of the parents
from the question
In humans, brown eyes are dominant over blue eyes. What
type of offspring would you expect if you crossed a
heterozygous brown-eyed person to a heterozygous
brown-eyed person?

B = brown eyes (dominant)

b = blue eyes (recessive)

Parent 1 (Mom) = Bb
= Bb

Parent 2 (Dad)

Punnett Squares: Step by

Step
2. Write down the cross
In humans, brown eyes are dominant over blue eyes. What
type of offspring would you expect if you crossed a
heterozygous brown-eyed person to a heterozygous browneyed person?

Cross: Bb x Bb

Punnett Squares: Step by

Step
3. Draw the Punnett Square
Cross: Bb x Bb

Punnett Squares: Step by

Step
4. Split the parents genotypes into gametes
and put them on the outside of the
Punnett square
Cross: Bb x Bb

Punnett Squares: Step by

Step
5. Determine the genotypes of the offspring
by filling in the Punnett Square
Cross: Bb x Bb

Punnett Squares: Step by

Step
5. Determine the genotypes of the offspring
by filling in the Punnett Square
Cross: Bb x Bb

Punnett Squares: Step by

Step
5. Summarize results (genotype and
phenotype)
In humans, brown eyes are dominant
Cross: Bb x Bb

over blue eyes. What type of

offspring would you expect if you
crossed a heterozygous brown eyed
person to a heterozygous brown eyed
person?

Punnett Squares: Step by

Step
5. Summarize results (genotype and
phenotype)
In humans, brown eyes are dominant
Cross: Bb x Bb

over blue eyes. What type of

offspring would you expect if you
crossed a heterozygous brown eyed
person to a heterozygous brown eyed
person?
The genotypes of the offspring
included: 1 homozygous dominant
(BB), 2 heterozygous (Bb), and 1
homozygous dominant (bb).
You would expect the phenotypes of
the offspring to be 3 with brown one
with blue eyes.