Alleles Flashcards
What are alleles?
A Gene that can have different versions
What is an example of alleles?
The gene for dimples has two alleles: having dimples and not having dimples. For each gene, you inherit one allele from your father and one from your mother
What is the meaning of homozygous?
Inheriting two alleles that are the same
What is the meaning of heterozygous?
Inheriting two alleles that are different
What is a genotype?
The combination of alleles you possess
What is a phenotype?
The actual characteristics you show
What does the term ‘Dominant Allele’ mean?
The Dominant Allele controls the development of a characteristic, even if it’s a present on only one chromosome pair.
What does the term ‘Recessive Allele’ mean?
The Recessive Allele controls the development of a characteristic only if a dominant allele isn’t present (i.e if the recessive allele is present on both chromosomes in a pair.)
Why can brothers and sister look very different from each other?
Because brothers and sisters randomly inherit different combinations of alleles, which is why they can be very different.
