Question 10 The genotypes of the two parents would be A - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 10 - 2002 - Paper 1

To determine the genotypes of the parents, we need to analyze the options provided and consider the inheritance patterns.

1. P and L Genes:

   • The options mention two traits: seed shape (P) and leaf shape (L), where 'P' indicates round seeds (dominant) and 'p' indicates wrinkled seeds (recessive). Similarly, 'L' indicates normal leaves (dominant), while 'l' indicates the abnormal shape (recessive).

2. Analyzing the Parent Genotypes:

   • To yield offspring that display a combination of traits, like normal leaves, at least one parent must contribute dominant alleles.
   • Option B: Ppll includes one dominant allele for seed shape and one recessive for leaf shape; however, PPLL would not provide opportunity for variability.
   • Options A and D: Both have one parent contributing wholly recessive traits, which wouldn’t allow for the variability seen in the offspring.
   • Option C: PpLl x PpLl allows both parents to contribute dominant and recessive traits, leading to the potential variability in offspring traits. This matches genetic predictions based on independent assortment.

3. Conclusion: Therefore, the most suitable answer is C. PpLl x PpLl.