rabangus has a very good point. Let's use the simple Mendelian genetics model, and let's say for the sake of argument (and this may in fact be true) that both the dentate and all-red traits are each controlled by a single, recessive gene. We'll call the dentate allele 'd', with 'D' meaning normal-length cilia, and the all-red allele 'r', with 'R', of course, meaning normal coloration. A plant with normal coloration, including a dentate traps VFT, is likely to have the genotype 'RR', as the mutant all-red allele is unlikely to be present at all, and likewise a plant with normal cilia length, including an all-red VFT, is likely to have the genotype 'DD'. If we cross our hypothetical model dentate traps VFT (homozygous recessive for cilia length, 'dd', and likely homozygous dominant for coloration, 'RR') with the all-red VFT (homozygous recessive for coloration, 'rr', and likely homozygous dominant for cilia length, 'DD'), here is what we would expect to see in the offspring:
R R
-------
r | Rr Rr
| = 100% heterozygous, normal coloration
r | Rr Rr
d d
-------
D | Dd Dd
| = 100% heterozygous, normal cilia length
D | Dd Dd
All offspring are heterozygous for both traits. Thus, even though every plant carries one of the recessive mutant alleles, that allele is masked by the domant, normal allele, and the result is that every plant looks normal in both respects. And so, as Phil asserted, you would most likely get all normal-looking VFTs. However, if we cross two of these offspring of this F2 generation, here are the expected results:
R r
-------
R | RR Rr
| = 25% homozygous recessive ('rr', all-red)
r | Rr rr
D d
-------
D | DD Dd
| = 25% homozygous recessive ('dd', short cilia)
d | Dd dd
As you can see, 1/4 of all offspring of this cross will have either all-red coloration or dentate traps, and therefore 1/16 of all offspring will be BOTH all-red AND have dentate traps. If you grow enough seed of this F2 hybrid cross, you will certainly be able to obtain the desired all-red dentate VFT. Hooray for science!
Can you tell I'm taking Genetics? lol
(Edited by havron at 5:11 pm on April 19, 2002)