In the yawncat (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. The black coat color allele B is dominant to the brown allele b, but these genes can only be expressed if the animal has an mm genotype at a third gene locus. Animals that are M_ are yellow regardless of which allele from the B locus is present. A mating between a solid yellow-tailed male yawncat and a solid brown-tailed female yawncat 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 male's genotype is MmRrBb.

Explanation:

The dominant allele R causes solid tail color, and the recessive allele r results in white spots on a colored background.

The black coat color allele B is dominant to the brown allele b

But these genes can only be expressed if the animal has an mm genotype at a third gene locus. Animals that are M_ are yellow regardless of which allele from the B locus is present.

A mating between a solid yellow-tailed male yawn  cat and a solid brown-tailed female yawncat

the offspring:

6 M_R_ solid yellow

2 M_rr spotted yellow

3 mmR_B_ solid black

1 mmrrB_ spotted black

3mmR_bb solid brown

1mmrrbb

Since the female's genotype is mmR_bb. To produce offspring with these varying genotypes; each parent contributes one copy each. Since the male is a solid yellow, we can say part of his genotype is: M_R_.

Among the offspring, there is the presence of the dominant B allele, thus we can assume his genotype to be: M_R_B_.

Among the offspring, we have those that express the black and brown colour and to get the brown colour (b), the two parents must possess a copy each of both the m that allows expression and b that allows for brown colour. Thus the male genotype is: MmR_Bb.

There are also spotted ones among that can express this trait when both parent possess one copy each of r allele. Thus the male's genotype is MmRrBb.

Thus the mating will be between MmRrBb and mmR_bb to produce those stes of progeny.

it should be d) transitional fossils.

they show the gradualism of evolution throughout a period of time