A scientist is researching two different traits in an insect: body texture and color. Smooth body (B) is dominant to bumpy body (b), and gray (G) is dominant to white (g). A BbGg and a bbgg insect mate and produce the following 480 offspring: Phenotype Number of Offspring Smooth, gray 119 Bumpy, white 117 Smooth, white 123 Bumpy, gray 121 What type of inheritance is displayed from these offspring

Independent assortment

Explanation:

The type of inheritance displayed by the offspring is a simple independent assortment inheritance according to Mendelian law.

The result of crossing BbGg and bbgg is as follows (see the attached image)

4 BbGg smooth and gray

4 Bbgg  smooth and white

4 bbGg bumpy and gray

4 bbgg bumpy and white

The phenotype ratio from the cross is 1:1:1:1 as far as the independent assortment is concerned.

Now, looking at the population of each phenotype from the cross

Smooth, gray 119

Smooth, white 123

Bumpy, gray 121

Bumpy, white 117

119:123:121:117 is approximately equal to 1:1:1:1.

Hence, the cross agrees with Mendel's law of independent assortment of genes.

b is the correct answer