Editing Imaginary Friend Builder (section)

== Why This Works ==

''Punnett Squares'' are a tool used by biologists to predict what traits will be passed on. When looking at a possible breeding experiment, one would want to try and predict the ''Genotype'', or the genetic makeup of the offspring. If this can be predicted, than one can make an educated guess at the ''Phenotype'', or the traits that are expressed by the genes in the organisms.

Traits in an organism are either primary or recessive. ''Primary traits'' are those genes which are more likely to be expressed. ''Recessive traits'' are those genes which are less likely to be expressed. In other words, primary traits are common and recessive traits are uncommon. When looking at the genotype and phenotype of an organism, the likelihood of certain common or uncommon traits can be predicted based on the genes passed on.

We can use the example below to see how traits are predicted:
{| class="wikitable" style="color:black; background-color:#ddd; text-align: left; margin-right: auto"
|+Punnet Square Example
|Eye Color:
|style="color:green"|Green (G)
|style="color:blue"|Blue (b)
|-
|style="color:blue"|Blue (B)|| GB || Bb
|-
|style="color:blue"|Blue (b)|| Gb || bb
|}

In this example, we have two expressed traits (Blue and Green) and two recessive traits (blue and blue). If we follow the steps from the demonstration, we would flip a coin to see which of the first parent's traits (Green and blue) would be passed on, with a 50% chance for Green. The second coin flip would be for the second parent's traits (Blue and blue), which are guaranteed blue. Blue is guaranteed to be expressed in at least two of the cases, whereas Green is only guaranteed in one case. This allows us to predict the offspring to be more likely to have blue eyes, with a 67% higher chance than green.

If GB is selected, than either primary trait can be used, with both being primary traits for that organism's offspring. If bb is selected, than blue is the trait used, but both traits will be recessive in that organism's offspring. This shows us not only how traits are passed from generation to generation, but how unique the traits are as they go from one generation to the next!