Question

Suppose that in sheep, a dominant allele [B] produces black hair and a recessive allele [b] produces white hair. If you saw a black sheep, you would be able to identify:
A. Its phenotype for hair colour
B. Its genotype for hair colour
C. The genotypes for only one of its parents
D. The genotypes for both of its parents

Answer 1

Hint: The genotype showcases the actual pair of alleles transmitted to the offspring. The phenotype on the other hand tells the character of a trait. It merely gives an idea about the genotype.

Complete Step by Step Answer:
In broader terms, genotype can be referred to the variants of a particular type of character located at a definite locus of a chromosome. It is of three types: homozygous dominant(in this case: BB), heterozygous dominant(Bb), homozygous recessive(bb).
The phenotype is the outcome of a long process and just shows the expression of a trait. After undergoing the central dogma of genetic code, that is: transcription and translation, the trait is expressed. Thus, it is not necessary that the genotype will be expressed as it can change on many levels. Sometimes the environment affects it, other times the gene fails to express itself.

Therefore, the correct option for this question is A

Note: The genotype can be found using scientific or technical methods while the phenotype can be found out just by observing an organism. In this case, we can know the phenotype of the sheep by observing its colour. The genotype, however, cannot be known accurately just by observing since both BB and Bb will produce a black coloured hair sheep. It would have been easier to investigate the genotype of a white coloured hair sheep as it is a recessive trait. Hence, only a bb allele would have expressed it.