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Difference Between Dominant and Recessive Traits

Last Updated : 16 Mar, 2023
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The terms “dominant” and “recessive” are crucial in genetics to understand how traits are inherited. Dominant traits are expressed when an individual has a dominant allele, while recessive traits require two recessive alleles. This knowledge is essential in predicting the likelihood of certain traits and conditions appearing in future generations and has implications in fields like medicine and evolutionary biology.

Dominant Traits

Dominant traits are physical or genetic characteristics that show up when at least one copy of the gene is present. Examples include brown eyes, widow’s peak hairline, and dimples. They can be inherited from either parent and may skip generations. A Punnett square is used to determine the probability of inheriting a dominant trait, with a 50% chance for offspring to inherit it.

Overall, dominant traits are expressed in an individual’s phenotype even if there’s only one copy of the responsible gene. These traits can be inherited from either parent, and a Punnett square can be used to predict the probability of inheriting a dominant trait.

Recessive Traits

Recessive traits express when an individual inherits two copies of the gene. Dominant traits override recessive traits when an individual inherits one copy of each gene. Blue eyes are an example of a recessive trait, while brown eyes are dominant. Inbreeding can increase the likelihood of inheriting two copies of a recessive gene, resulting in the expression of conditions and diseases like sickle cell anemia.

 In conclusion, sheepish traits are traits that are only expressed when an individual inherits two clones of the sheepish gene. They’re frequently masked by dominant traits and can lead to the expression of sheepish conditions and diseases when inherited from both parents.

Similarities Between Dominant and Recessive Trait

Although dominant and recessive traits differ significantly, they also share some similarities. These are some of the similarities between dominant and recessive traits are:

  • Both are inherited: Both dominant and recessive traits are inherited from their parents through inheritable material present in their DNA.
  • Both involve alleles: Both dominant and recessive traits involve alleles, which are different performances of the same gene that determine the expression of a particular particularity.
  • Both can be homozygous or heterozygous: Both dominant and recessive traits can exist in homozygous or heterozygous forms, depending on the presence of one or two clones of the dominant or recessive allele.
  • Both can have deficient dominance: Both dominant and recessive traits can parade deficient dominance, where neither allele is fully dominant nor recessive, resulting in an amalgamated expression of the particularity.
  • Both can be subject to inheritable diseases: Both dominant and recessive traits can be subject to inheritable diseases or conditions when mutations or changes occur in the DNA sequence that affects the particularity’s expression.

Differences Between Dominant and Recessive Traits

The difference between dominant and recessive traits is how they are expressed and inherited. Dominant traits are expressed when an individual has at least one dominant allele, and they always cover up the expression of recessive alleles. These traits are more common and predictable in populations and are associated with physical or behavioral characteristics like brown eyes or tongue rolling.

 

Dominant Traits

Recessive Traits

Expression Expressed with at least one dominant allele Only expressed when both alleles are recessive
Masking of expression Masks the expression of any recessive allele Masked by the presence of a dominant allele
Frequency in population More common in populations Less common in populations
Inheritance pattern Inherited in a predictable pattern Inherited in an unpredictable pattern
Carriers Cannot be carriers Can be carriers without expressing the trait
Examples Brown eyes, ability to roll tongue, widow’s peak Cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, albinism, phenylketonuria
Genetic testing and counseling Important in genetic testing and counseling Important in genetic testing and counseling
Role in agriculture Used in selective breeding to promote desirable traits Used in selective breeding to eliminate undesirable traits
Evolutionary implications Dominant traits tend to be more advantageous in evolution Recessive traits may be hidden in a population for generations

FAQs on Dominant and Recessive Trait

Question 1: What is the Dominant Trait?

Answer:

When only one allele can show the effect by masking the effect of recessive alleles such a trait is known as a dominant trait.

Question 2: Is short height Dominant or Recessive?

Answer:

Short height is written as tt is a recessive trait

Question 3: Which Eye color is Dominant?

Answer:

Brown eyes are the dominant trait of eye color.


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