Patterns Of Inheritance

Question 1

Describe incomplete dominance

Answer 1

Incomplete as a form of dominance where alleles of a gene pair in a heterozygous genotype, are expressed in an inter intermediate/mixed form. This results in the offspring forming a new inbetween phenotype.

Question 2

Describe complete dominance

Answer 2

Complete dominance is when a phenotype is always expressed, that masks the effect of a recessive allele even if only one copy of the allele is present in the genotype.

Question 3

Explain multiple alleles

Answer 3

Multiple alleles are alleles of which there are more than two alternatives available for one gene. This results and multiple phenotypes.

Question 4

Discuss why complete dominance, incomplete dominance, and multiple alleles, could be an advantage and disadvantage to a species.
- link to natural selection

Answer 4

The advantages of incomplete dominance inheritance are that it increases phenotype variation within the species. A disadvantage of complete dominance is that it masks the recessive allele of an individual, meaning that only two different phenotypes can be produced through reproduction or a cross.
The advantages of multiple alleles within a species means more phenotypes are expressed, and therefore it means there are more different phenotypes that can respond to natural selection pressures and therefore increases the chances of survival as a species.(especially if environmental conditions change.)