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When a dominant allele is paired with a recessive allele, the dominant allele determines the characteristic. When these traits or characteristics are visibly expressed, they are known as phenotypes. The genetic code behind a trait is known as the genotype.
The terms dominant and recessive describe the inheritance patterns of certain traits. That is, they describe how likely it is for a certain phenotype to pass from parent offspring. Sexually reproducing species, including people and other animals, have two copies of each gene.
What is the difference between dominant and recessive traits? Dominant traits are always expressed when the connected allele is dominant, even if only one copy of the dominant trait exists. Recessive traits are expressed only if both the connected alleles are recessive.
Freckles, cleft chin and dimples are all examples of a dominant trait. Having almond-shaped eyes is a dominant trait whereas having round eyes is a feature controlled by recessive alleles. The trait of detached earlobes, as opposed to attached earlobes, is dominant. Right-handedness is dominant over left-handedness.
If an allele is recessive, then the gene needs to have two copies (or be homozygous) to express the recessive phenotype. If an organism is a heterozygote, or has one copy of each allele type, then it will show the dominant phenotype.
Key Points. Dominant alleles are expressed exclusively in a heterozygote, while recessive traits are expressed only if the organism is homozygous for the recessive allele. A single allele may be dominant over one allele, but recessive to another.
Dominant and recessive genes are two types of genes that determine the expression of traits in individuals. Dominant genes are those that overpower or mask the effect of recessive genes, while recessive genes only manifest their traits when paired with another recessive gene.
Individuals inherit two versions of each gene, known as alleles, from each parent. In the case of a dominant trait, only one copy of the dominant allele is required to express the trait. The effect of the other allele (the recessive allele) is masked by the dominant allele.
Most human cells carry two copies of each chromosome, so usually have two versions of each gene. These different versions of a gene are called alleles. Alleles can either be dominant or recessive, which describes the way their associated traits are inherited.
The self-cross of the F1 generation can be analyzed with a Punnett square to predict the genotypes of the F2 generation. Given an inheritance pattern of dominant–recessive, the genotypic and phenotypic ratios can then be determined. In pea plants, round peas (R) are dominant to wrinkled peas (r).