Each backcross generation recovers recurrent parent genome by:
Genomic recovery after backcrossing follows Mendelian expectation of halving unlinked donor genome each cycle. F1 contains 50% recurrent and 50% donor. When F1 is crossed to recurrent parent, gametes from F1 carry on average half donor alleles; progeny BC1F1 averages 75% recurrent, gaining 25% increment which equals half the remaining donor proportion. In each subsequent backcross, donor fraction halves again: BC2F1 87.5%, BC3F1 93.75%, BC4F1 96.875%, achieving rapid return to recurrent background. Formula for recurrent proportion after n backcrosses = 1 - (1/2)^(n+1). Recovery rate pertains t
Ref: Hospital F. 2005 Genetics 160: 1071 – Size of donor genome. Allard, Chapter 15