Understanding the Inheritance of Coat Color in Cats

The Genetics of Coat Color in Cats

The question is incorrect. The correct question is as follows: Joe has a white cat named Sam. When Joe crosses Sam with a black cat, he obtains 1/2 white kittens and 1/2 black kittens. When the black kittens are interbred, all the kittens that they produce are black. On the basis of these results, would you conclude that white or black coat color in cats is a recessive trait? Why?

Question:

On the basis of these results, would you conclude that white or black coat color in cats is a recessive trait?

Answer:

Black coat color is recessive.

Explanation: The dominant trait is the trait that has the ability to express itself in homozygous as well as in the heterozygous condition. The recessive trait can express itself only in the homozygous recessive condition.

The crossing of a white cat with a black cat will show the cross as follows: Bb (white) × bb (black) resulting in Bb, Bb (white) and bb, bb (black).

The interbreeding of black kittens is as follows: bb (black) × bb (black) resulting in all progeny being bb (black).

From the above crosses, it is clear that black is a recessive trait.