In the seawolf (a rare hypothetical animal), the dominant allele r causes solid tail color, and the recessive allele r results in white spots on a colored background. for coat color, a separate trait, the black coat color allele b is dominant to the brown allele b, but the b and b alleles can only be expressed if the animal has an m_ genotype at a third gene locus. animals that are mm are yellow regardless of which allele from the b locus is present. a mating between a solid yellow-tailed male seawolf and a solid brown-tailed female seawolf produces 16 offspring with the following tail phenotypes: six solid yellow, two spotted yellow, three solid black, one spotted black, three solid brown, and one spotted brown. what is the most likely genotype of the male parent?

The most likely genotype of the male parent is RrBbmm.

Explanation:

First of all, we have 3 genes and 6 alleles:

For color pattern:

- RR or Rr: Solid tail color

- rr: Spotted tail

For coat color:

- BB or Bb: Black coat color

- bb: Brown color

Expression of gene B/b depends on M:

- MM or Mm: B/b is expresed.

- mm: B/b is not expresed, yellow coat.

So, a cross between a solid yellow-tailed male and a solid brown-tailed female was made, and the offspring was:

- 6 solid yellow

- 2 spotted yellow

- 3 solid black

- 1 spotted black

- 3 solid brown

- 1 spotted brown

Total: 16

If it was produced all possible phenotypes, it means that parents have to be carriers of R/r, B/b, and M/m alleles. Male parent is yellow, so he has to be mm for this gene, but for the two other alleles he should be heterozygous:

RrBbmm

And female parent is solid brown-tailed, so she has M allele, (probably heterozygous), and Rr and bb (color brown),, like this:

RrbbMm

When these two genotypes are crossed, 8 gametes are generated for each parent, and 64 possible combinations. This cross in the attached Punnett Square.

As a result, the phenotypicial ratios are in the attached table and they are the same as the reported in the question:

Punnett Square

- 24 (6) solid yellow

- 8 (2) spotted yellow

- 12 (3) solid black

- 4 (1) spotted black

- 12 (3) solid brown

- 4 (1) spotted brown

Total: 64

we would need to see the picture to answer it

i would say it is