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Multiple Choice
Which genotype represents a heterozygous allele?
A
AAA
B
Aa
C
AA
D
aa
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of alleles: Alleles are different forms of a gene. In diploid organisms, each individual has two alleles for each gene, one inherited from each parent.
Define homozygous and heterozygous: Homozygous means having two identical alleles for a particular gene (e.g., 'AA' or 'aa'), while heterozygous means having two different alleles for a gene (e.g., 'Aa').
Identify the genotypes given in the problem: The genotypes provided are 'AAA', 'Aa', 'AA', and 'aa'.
Analyze each genotype: 'AAA' is not a typical diploid genotype as it suggests three alleles. 'AA' and 'aa' are homozygous because they have identical alleles. 'Aa' is heterozygous because it has two different alleles.
Conclude which genotype is heterozygous: Based on the definitions and analysis, 'Aa' is the genotype that represents a heterozygous allele.