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Multiple Choice
What is the difference between dominant and recessive alleles?
A
Recessive alleles are always expressed in the phenotype, while dominant alleles are only expressed when two copies are present.
B
Dominant alleles are expressed only in homozygous conditions, while recessive alleles are expressed in heterozygous conditions.
C
Dominant alleles are always expressed in the phenotype, while recessive alleles are only expressed when two copies are present.
D
Dominant alleles are only expressed in the presence of a recessive allele, while recessive alleles are expressed in the presence of a dominant allele.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the basic concept of alleles: Alleles are different forms of a gene that are found at the same place on a chromosome. They can be dominant or recessive.
Define dominant alleles: Dominant alleles are those that are expressed in the phenotype even if only one copy is present. This means that if an individual has at least one dominant allele, the trait associated with that allele will be visible.
Define recessive alleles: Recessive alleles are only expressed in the phenotype when two copies are present. This means that the trait associated with a recessive allele will only be visible if the individual has two copies of the recessive allele (homozygous recessive).
Clarify the expression in heterozygous conditions: In a heterozygous condition, where one dominant and one recessive allele are present, the dominant allele will mask the expression of the recessive allele, resulting in the dominant trait being expressed.
Summarize the key difference: The key difference is that dominant alleles are always expressed in the phenotype if present, while recessive alleles require two copies to be expressed in the phenotype.