dominant
Chapter 9 ⢠Economic and social aspects of demography
Section: 912 ⢠Reference number: 5
Main entry(ies)
- dominant
Term in context
The set of two genes of an individual at the same locus is called a genotype1; the genotype is said to be homozygous2 if the alleles are identical at a given locus; it is said to be heterozygous3 in the opposite case. The phenotype4 consists in the observable characteristics as determined by the genotype and the environment. If an heterozygous individual (AA’) cannot be distinguished from an homozygous individual (AA), the allele A is said to be dominant5 over allele A’, and A’ is said to be recessive6. Genes are subject to sudden and apparently random changes, called mutations7. Panmixia8 or random mating8 insures uniform distribution of genes within populations.
Footnotes
7 Mutation, n. - mutant, adj. or n.
