dominant allele
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun (Genetics): An allele that expresses its phenotypic effect even when heterozygous with a recessive allele; it produces the same phenotype whether its paired allele is identical or different.
Usage
- The dominant allele is represented by an uppercase letter (e.g., 'B' for brown eyes).
- In a genetic cross, the trait determined by the dominant allele will appear in the offspring if at least one copy is present.
Examples
- Noun:
- The gene for brown eye color has a dominant allele.
- If a plant inherits the dominant allele for tallness, it will be tall even if it also carries the allele for shortness.
Advanced Usage
- "To be dominant over": Describes the relationship where one allele masks the effect of another.
- In pea plants, the allele for round seeds is dominant over the allele for wrinkled seeds.
Variants and Related Words
- Dominance (n): The phenomenon where one allele masks the expression of another.
- The principle of dominance is a key part of Mendelian genetics.
- Dominant gene (n): Often used synonymously with 'dominant allele' in non-technical contexts.
- The dominant gene for freckles is common in their family.
Synonyms
- Dominant gene (in common parlance)
- Dominant factor (in a broader genetic context)
Related Phrases
- Express a dominant allele: To show the trait controlled by that allele.
- The offspring will express the dominant allele if they inherit it from either parent.
- Carry a dominant allele: To possess the allele, which may or may not be expressed phenotypically depending on the other allele.
- Both parents carry the dominant allele for the trait.
Related Concepts (Not Idioms)
- Recessive allele: The allele whose effect is masked by a dominant allele in a heterozygous pair.
- Homozygous dominant: Having two identical copies of the dominant allele.
- Heterozygous: Having one dominant and one recessive allele for a gene.
Noun
- an allele that produces the same phenotype whether its paired allele is identical or different