Question

A group of laboratory mice having tails are bred together and their progeny is studied. The progeny had tails. However, scientist surgically removed the tails of the progeny and again bred them for four successive generations. What do you think would be the nature of the new progeny?

• A. All mice born will have tails.
• B. All mice born will have no tails.
• C. The ratio of tail-less to tailed mice will be 1:3.
• D. The ratio of tail less to tailed mice will be 1:4.

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

All mice born will have tails.

When parent mice with tail were bred the progeny obtained had tails. Thus, presence of tail is an inherited traits. When the tails of progeny were cut, no changes were made to the genotype and hence it becomes an acquired trait, which cannot affect the genotype or phenotype of the following generations. Hence, when the tail-less mice were interbred, all the mice of new progeny had tails.

Thus, the correct answer is option A.