From a cross between a black agouti mouse and an albino mouse, what is the genotype of the black agouti parent if half of the offspring are albino?

In this scenario, understanding the genetics of fur color in mice is crucial. The black agouti mouse is characterized by a dominant agouti allele, while the albino mouse carries a recessive allele for both fur color and the agouti trait.

The presence of albino offspring indicates that the black agouti parent must carry a recessive allele for the albino trait (denoted as 'c'). This is because an albino mouse has the genotype 'cc', and for an offspring to display this phenotype, the black agouti parent must provide one recessive allele.

When half of the offspring are albino, this suggests that the black agouti parent is heterozygous for the dominant coat color allele (B or b) and also carries the recessive allele for the albino trait. The most likely genotype for the black agouti parent, in order to allow for this 1:1 ratio of phenotypes, is therefore heterozygous for the agouti trait (Cc), and potentially heterozygous for the black trait (Bb).

Thus, BbCc would explain the diversity in the offspring. The dominant black or agouti coloration would be expressed in those with the dominant alleles, while the albino phenotype would only