EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -The test cross is another fundamental tool devised by Gregor Mendel . In its simplest form, a test cross is an experimental cross of an individual organism of dominant phenotype but unknown genotype and an organism with a homozygous recessive genotype (and phenotype).

Detailed explanation-2: -A test cross is used to determine if the genotype of a plant with the dominant phenotype is homozygous or heterozygous.

Detailed explanation-3: -The purpose of the test cross is to determine the genetic makeup of the dominant organism. Mendel wanted to do this so that he could be sure he was working with a dominant organism which was homozygous, or contained only dominant alleles.

Detailed explanation-4: -An organism’s genetic makeup is called its genotype, and it reflects all of the alleles, or forms of the gene, that are carried by the organism. Consequently, a test cross can help determine whether a dominant phenotype is homozygous or heterozygous for a specific allele.

Detailed explanation-5: -A test cross is a cross between an individual with an unknown genotype with a homozygous recessive genotype. It is a method to determine the genotype of an organism.