Explaining Inheritance

Question 1

Define recessive

Answer 1

Version of a gene (allele) that will only have an effect if the other allele is also recessive

Question 2

Define homozygous

Answer 2

If both alleles for a characteristic are the same, the organism is the homozygous for that characteristic.

Question 3

Define heterozygous

Answer 3

If both alleles for a characteristic are different, the organism is heterozygous for that characteristic

Question 4

Define phenotype

Answer 4

The characteristics that a certain set of alleles cause

Question 5

Define genotype

Answer 5

The alleles for a certain characteristic that are found in an organism

Question 6

Define dominant

Answer 6

Version of a gene (allele) that will always have an effect (as opposed to a recessive allele, whose effect will not be seen if a dominant allele is present)