Advanced Placement (AP) Biology Practice Exam

What does the F1 generation represent in the context of Mendelian genetics?

1. Initial parental generation

2. Next generation after hybridization

3. Offspring of the F2 generation

4. Backcross offspring

The correct answer is: Next generation after hybridization

In Mendelian genetics, the F1 generation represents the first filial generation, which is the direct offspring resulting from a cross between two parental (P) generation individuals with different traits. This generation is significant because it typically exhibits a combination of the traits found in its parents, often showing a dominant phenotype if one trait is dominant over the other. The F1 generation serves as the foundational basis for observing inheritance patterns and traits, which are then further examined in the subsequent F2 generation—derived by crossing F1 individuals among themselves. Thus, selecting the next generation after hybridization as the correct answer accurately reflects the role of the F1 generation in genetic studies, establishing the principles of heredity as introduced by Gregor Mendel.