Punnett Squares

Punnett Squares are a super fun tool to determine possible genotypes that parent rabbits can pass on to their offspring. It is best when you are first starting out to work with only one locus at a time.

Step 1

A simple Punnett Square consists of a 4-part square.

Step 2

One parent on the top of the square, and one parent on the left of the square. For the purpose of this lesson, we will use the A locus. For this example, the sire is Aa (agouti carrying self) and the dam is AA (agouti carrying agouti).

Step 3

Starting with the dominant gene from each parent, copy that gene for each parent into the first box, listing the most dominant of those two genes first.

Step 4

Do the same for the other three boxes.

Step 5

Once you have finished each square, you can calculate out the odds for each color possibility.

Step 6

For this example, there is a 50% chance that the kit will be AA (homozygous agouti), and a 50% chance that the kit will be Aa (agouti carrying self). Note- these odds are for EACH KIT, not overall odds for the litter.

Bigger and Better

Punnett Squares can get very complicated... For each locus you add, the more the square grows. It's simple enough though to do just one locus at a time. This Punnett Square is for two loci.