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Q.131 Botany ⭐ 360° Option Elimination Active
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NEET 2024 Botany Question 131 Solution

Topic: Principles of Inheritance and Variation · Official NTA Booklet Code T1
NEET 2024 Botany Question 131: Test Cross Determination of Dominant Genotype

Question

In a plant, black seed color (BB/Bb) is dominant over white seed color (bb). In order to find out the genotype of the black seed plant, with which of the following genotype will you cross it?

✓
Verified Against NTA Final Answer Key
Option (4) : bb
📚 Principles of Inheritance and Variation Easy
📋 Given Parameters & Problem Setup
Dominant Trait Black seed color (BB or Bb)
Recessive Trait White seed color (bb)
Goal Determine the unknown genotype of a black seeded plant
⚡

The 30-Second Exam Hall Shortcut: ⚡ Test Cross Definition Rule

⏱️ Save ~20 seconds

To determine whether an individual showing a dominant phenotype is homozygous (BB) or heterozygous (Bb), cross it with the homozygous recessive parent (bb)! This is a Test Cross!

1 Recall test cross methodology:
2 - Cross unknown dominant (BBBB or BbBb) with homozygous recessive (bbbb).
3 - If all progeny are black (BbBb), the unknown is BBBB.
4 - If 50%50\% are black (BbBb) and 50%50\% are white (bbbb), the unknown is BbBb.
5 Hence, the tester genotype must be homozygous recessive: bb.
6 Select Option (4) / D.
🛡️
Why You Can 100% Trust This Shortcut: NCERT Biology · Principles of Inheritance and Variation (Test Cross Principle)
📐

Step-by-Step Rigorous Workflow & Mathematical Proof

Step 1

Define a Test Cross

In genetics, a test cross is the cross of an organism showing a dominant phenotype (whose genotype may be homozygous or heterozygous) with an organism that is homozygous recessive for the same trait.

Step 2

Evaluate Progeny Ratios

If the black seed plant is homozygous dominant (BBBB): BB×bb→100%  Bb  (all black)BB \times bb \rightarrow 100\%\; Bb\;(\text{all black}) If the black seed plant is heterozygous (BbBb): Bb×bb→50%  Bb  (black):50%  bb  (white)Bb \times bb \rightarrow 50\%\; Bb\;(\text{black}) : 50\%\; bb\;(\text{white}) Because the recessive parent donates only recessive alleles (bb), the phenotype of the progeny directly reveals the alleles donated by the unknown dominant parent.

Step 3

Select Matching Genotype

The genotype crossed with the black seeded plant is homozygous recessive (bbbb), which is Option (4).

⭐

360° Option Elimination Engine Key Feature

Diagnose every choice: Know exactly why the right option works and why distractors fail.

4-Option Deep Scan
1 (1)
✗ Incorrect
Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Crossing with heterozygous Bb will produce dominant phenotypes in both homozygous and heterozygous dominant unknowns, obscuring clean 1:1 discrimination.

⚠️
Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Crossing with heterozygous Bb will produce dominant phenotypes in both homozygous and heterozygous dominant unknowns, obscuring clean 1:1 discrimination.
2 (2)
✗ Incorrect
Verdict & Scientific Reason:

An ambiguous or dominant genotype cannot serve as a diagnostic tester.

⚠️
Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): An ambiguous or dominant genotype cannot serve as a diagnostic tester.
3 (3)
✗ Incorrect
Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Crossing with homozygous dominant BB yields 100% black seeds regardless of whether the unknown is BB or Bb, giving no information.

⚠️
Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Crossing with homozygous dominant BB yields 100% black seeds regardless of whether the unknown is BB or Bb, giving no information.
4 (4)
✓ 100% Correct
Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Homozygous recessive genotype (bb) allows direct phenotypic readout of the unknown dominant genotype (test cross).

💡
Why this is airtight: None.
⚠️

NTA Trap Alert: Backcross vs Testcross Ambiguity

Thinking any cross with a parent is sufficient; only the homozygous recessive parent definitively tests the unknown genotype.

🛡️ How to avoid the -1 mark: Remember: Test cross is strictly a cross with the homozygous recessive individual.
📖

Core NEET Syllabus Standard

Biology Core Botany · Principles of Inheritance and Variation Standard Benchmark
Core Scientific Principle Tested:

"To determine the genotype of a tall plant at F2, Mendel crossed the tall plant from F2 with a dwarf plant. This he called a test cross. In a typical test cross an organism showing a dominant phenotype is crossed with the recessive parent."

Syllabus Focus: Test Cross Determination of Dominant Genotype
✓ Core NEET UG Syllabus Anchor Syllabus & Academic Standards ↗

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