Explore the Plant Genetics & Mendelian Inheritance
Cross two parent plants for flower colour, seed shape or height, build the Punnett square, then breed real offspring. Works on phones and computers.
- Free to use
- No signup
- Nothing to install
- Runs in your browser
Illustration. Open the tool for the real thing.
See it in action
The Plant Genetics & Mendelian Inheritance with sample data entered and the result showing.
What is the Plant Genetics & Mendelian Inheritance?
Cross two parent plants for flower colour, seed shape or height, build the Punnett square, then breed real offspring and compare the ratio to Mendel's theory. It runs in your browser, so a change to a setting or a drag on an object shows up at once.
Plant breeders use exactly this Mendelian logic - and modern DNA testing of the underlying genes - to predict and select for traits like disease resistance, yield and colour in new crop varieties.
3 steps to your result
Open the tool and follow along. Nothing to install.
What you get
Mendel's law of segregation: each parent's two alleles for a trait separate into gametes with equal probability.
Mendel's law of independent assortment: alleles for different traits are inherited independently of each other.
A monohybrid cross of two heterozygotes gives a 3:1 phenotype ratio; a dihybrid cross of two double heterozygotes gives a 9:3:3:1 ratio.
Cross Dd × Dd for one trait, breed 10 offspring, then 10000, and compare the bars.
Switch to a dihybrid cross and check the ratio matches 9:3:3:1.
Cross a homozygous recessive with a heterozygote and predict the ratio before breeding.
Used for
Pick one to see how it fits.
Teachers
For teachers: project the Plant Genetics & Mendelian Inheritance Simulator on the board, let students predict the result, then run it together and test this: Switch to a dihybrid cross and check the ratio matches 9:3:3:1. For students: change one thing at a time and write down what changes.
Try it freeHow it compares
A plain look at this tool next to the usual alternative.
| This simulation | Textbook diagram | |
|---|---|---|
| Interactive | Drag, tap and change settings | Fixed picture |
| Install | Nothing to install | Not needed |
| Cost | Free to use | Depends on the book |
Questions people ask
Why does a cross between two heterozygous (Dd × Dd) plants give a 3:1 ratio?
The Punnett square shows four equally likely combinations - DD, Dd, Dd, dd - and three of them (DD, Dd, Dd) show the dominant phenotype while only dd shows the recessive one, giving 3:1.
Why might 10 simulated offspring not show exactly the predicted ratio?
Inheritance is random for each individual, so with a small sample chance alone can skew the result; breeding 1000 or 10000 offspring averages out that noise and matches the theoretical ratio much more closely.
Is the Plant Genetics & Mendelian Inheritance Simulator free to use?
Yes. The Plant Genetics & Mendelian Inheritance Simulator is free, needs no signup or download and runs in your web browser. It is part of the Botany group of AZRS simulations.
Does the Plant Genetics & Mendelian Inheritance Simulator work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The Plant Genetics & Mendelian Inheritance Simulator takes touch input as well as mouse input, so you can use its 1 adjustable settings with a finger. A larger screen makes the controls and graphs easier to read.
How do I use the Plant Genetics & Mendelian Inheritance?
1. In the Plant Genetics & Mendelian Inheritance Simulator, use the controls to change Number of offspring. The simulation reacts instantly. 2. In the Plant Genetics & Mendelian Inheritance Simulator, pick an option such as Monohybrid, Dihybrid, 10, 100 to switch modes or load an example. 3. In the Plant Genetics & Mendelian Inheritance Simulator, press "Breed offspring" to start, reset or change what is happening. 4. Start with this experiment: Cross Dd × Dd for one trait, breed 10 offspring, then 10000, and compare the bars. Drag any glowing handle, object or slider with your mouse or finger and the Plant Genetics & Mendelian Inheritance Simulator responds in real time. 5. Change one setting at a time and watch which readout moves, then compare it with this idea: Mendel's law of segregation: each parent's two alleles for a trait separate into gametes with equal probability.
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Try the Plant Genetics & Mendelian Inheritance now
Cross two parent plants for flower colour, seed shape or height, build the Punnett. Free to use.
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