In flies, small wings (s) is recessive to normal wings (S). If a cross between two flies produces 8 small wing offspring and 26 normal wing offspring, what are the most likely genotypes of the parents

The most likely genotypes of the parents is Ss and Ss. This would produce approximately three times the amount of small wings flies.

Explanation:

Small wings (s) is recessive to normal wings (S) in flies. Thus, small wings will be inherited in the recessive condition as ss and the normal wings can be inherited as SS or Ss.

A cross that will produce about three times the amount of the recessive allele which is the small wings is between

two heterozygote flies

Ss x Ss

SS Ss Ss ss

3/4 1/4

The most likely genotypes of the parents is Ss and Ss. This would produce approximately three times the amount of small wings flies.

3/4 of 34 will give an approximate of 26 and 1/4 of 34 will give an approximate of 8.