Punnett squares are tools used in genetics to predict the probability of offspring genotypes and phenotypes from parental crosses. They illustrate Mendel's laws of segregation and independent assortment.

Key Concepts:

• Monohybrid cross: 1 gene (e.g. Aa x Aa)
• Dihybrid cross: 2 genes (e.g. AaBb x AaBb)
• Genotype ratio: Probability of each genetic combination
• Phenotype ratio: Probability of each observable trait

Applications:

• Predicting inheritance of traits
• Understanding genetic disorders
• Plant and animal breeding