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Multiple Choice
Which of the following terms describes the combination of two different copies of an allele for a gene?
A
Homozygous
B
Heterozygous
C
Dominant
D
Recessive
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of alleles: Alleles are different versions of a gene that can exist at a specific locus on a chromosome. Each individual inherits two alleles for each gene, one from each parent.
Define homozygous: An organism is homozygous for a gene if it has two identical alleles for that gene. This means both alleles are the same, either both dominant or both recessive.
Define heterozygous: An organism is heterozygous for a gene if it has two different alleles for that gene. This means one allele is dominant and the other is recessive.
Differentiate between dominant and recessive alleles: A dominant allele is one that expresses its trait even if only one copy is present. A recessive allele only expresses its trait if two copies are present.
Apply the definitions to the problem: The term that describes the combination of two different copies of an allele for a gene is 'heterozygous', as it involves having one dominant and one recessive allele.