A tool used for predicting offspring eye color utilizes a grid-based diagram representing parental allele combinations and their potential inheritance patterns. For instance, if one parent carries both dominant brown (B) and recessive blue (b) alleles (Bb) and the other parent has two recessive blue alleles (bb), the diagram helps visualize the probability of their child having brown or blue eyes.
This predictive method offers valuable insight into the mechanisms of heredity. It allows for understanding how genes influence observable traits and provides a visual representation of Mendelian inheritance. Historically rooted in Gregor Mendel’s pea plant experiments, this visualization tool simplifies complex genetic concepts, making them accessible for educational purposes and family planning.