What is the difference between homozygous and heterozygous

General
1

what is the difference between homozygous and heterozygous

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What is the difference between homozygous and heterozygous?

Answer:
Homozygous and heterozygous are terminologies used in genetics to describe the genetic makeup of an individual regarding a particular gene. The main difference between homozygous and heterozygous lies in the alleles present for a specific gene.

Homozygous:

  • Homozygous refers to an individual having two identical alleles for a particular gene. These alleles could be either dominant (AA) or recessive (aa). For example, AA or aa.
  • In homozygous individuals, both inherited alleles are the same, either dominant or recessive.

Heterozygous:

  • Heterozygous refers to an individual having two different alleles for a particular gene. These alleles consist of one dominant and one recessive allele (Aa).
  • In heterozygous individuals, one allele is dominant, and the other is recessive.

In summary, homozygous individuals have two identical alleles for a specific gene (either dominant or recessive), while heterozygous individuals have two different alleles (one dominant and one recessive) for a particular gene.