What is a Punnett square used for?

A Punnett square is a tool used in genetics to predict the potential genotypes and phenotypes of offspring resulting from a particular genetic cross. It provides a visual representation of how alleles from each parent can combine in their offspring, allowing for the calculation of the probabilities of different genetic combinations. By listing the alleles from one parent along the top and the alleles from the other parent along the side, it becomes straightforward to see all possible outcomes.

This predictive capability is particularly useful in various applications, such as determining traits in breeding programs or studying inheritance patterns in organisms. The resulting ratios from the Punnett square help geneticists and biologists understand how traits are passed on, making it a foundational concept in the study of inheritance.