what is the difference between heterozygous and homozygous individuals?
What is the difference between heterozygous and homozygous individuals?
Answer:
Heterozygous and homozygous are terminologies used in genetics to describe the genetic makeup of individuals. Here are the main differences between heterozygous and homozygous individuals:
Homozygous Individuals:
Homozygous individuals have two identical alleles for a specific trait. These alleles could be dominant or recessive, but they are the same. For example, if an individual has two dominant alleles (AA) or two recessive alleles (aa) for a trait, they are considered homozygous for that trait.
Heterozygous Individuals:
Heterozygous individuals have two different alleles for a specific trait. One allele is dominant, and the other is recessive. For example, if an individual has one dominant allele and one recessive allele (Aa) for a trait, they are considered heterozygous for that trait.
In summary, the key difference between heterozygous and homozygous individuals lies in the similarity or dissimilarity of the alleles they possess for a particular trait.