Rabbit Genetics: Understanding Traits and Alleles

When it comes to understanding genetics in rabbits, it is important to know the different traits and alleles that can be present. In this case, we are looking at a rabbit that is heterozygous for both gray fur and black eyes.

Genotype refers to the genetic makeup of an organism, specifically in terms of the alleles present for a particular set of traits. In this scenario, the rabbit has the genotype GgBb. Let's break down what this means:

Gray Fur:

The gene for gray fur has two alleles – G (which represents gray fur) and g (which represents white fur). The rabbit in question is heterozygous for this trait, meaning it has one allele for gray fur (G) and one allele for white fur (g). Therefore, the genotype for gray fur is Gg.

Black Eyes:

Similarly, the gene for black eyes also has two alleles – B (which represents black eyes) and b (which represents red eyes). The rabbit is once again heterozygous for this trait, having one allele for black eyes (B) and one allele for red eyes (b). The genotype for black eyes is Bb.

Combining both sets of alleles, we get GgBb as the genotype for a rabbit that is heterozygous for gray fur and black eyes. This means that the rabbit carries both the dominant and recessive alleles for both traits.

Understanding the genotype of an organism can provide valuable insight into its genetic makeup and the traits it may pass on to future generations. By studying the inheritance of different traits in rabbits, we can unravel the complex world of genetics and appreciate the diversity that exists within this species.