Which statement best describes predicting eye color for the twins in this scenario?

Which statement best describes predicting eye color for the twins in this scenario?

• A. Eye color can be predicted with certainty based on parental eye colors.
• B. Eye color is not certain; brown is more likely.
• C. Eye color will be brown for both babies.
• D. Eye color cannot be predicted at all.

Answer: (B)

Eye color is a polygenic trait, meaning several genes contribute to the final color, with brown typically being dominant over other colors. Because many gene combinations can result in different colors, you can’t predict the twins’ eye colors with certainty. However, brown is more likely than other colors since the alleles for brown are commonly dominant, even though it’s still possible for the twins to have a non-brown color if recessive alleles come into play. So, predicting not with certainty but with higher likelihood for brown best reflects how eye color inheritance works.

Eye color is a polygenic trait, meaning several genes contribute to the final color, with brown typically being dominant over other colors. Because many gene combinations can result in different colors, you can’t predict the twins’ eye colors with certainty. However, brown is more likely than other colors since the alleles for brown are commonly dominant, even though it’s still possible for the twins to have a non-brown color if recessive alleles come into play. So, predicting not with certainty but with higher likelihood for brown best reflects how eye color inheritance works.