DOMINANT ALLELE Meaning and
Definition
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A dominant allele, in the field of genetics, refers to an alternative form or variant of a specific gene that exerts its influence or manifests its particular trait over another allele in a gene pair. Alleles are different variations of a gene that occupy corresponding locations on homologous chromosomes. In the case of dominant alleles, the presence of just one copy of the gene is sufficient to manifest its expressed trait, overriding or concealing the presence of another allele, known as the recessive allele.
When an organism possesses two different alleles in a gene pair, one dominant and one recessive, the dominant allele typically displays its characteristic, observable trait. This is because the dominant allele's information is translated into a functional protein or molecule, ultimately determining the phenotype, or physical appearance, of the organism. Consequently, individuals can exhibit the trait associated with a dominant allele even if they possess just one copy of it, as long as the recessive allele is absent or doesn't influence the trait.
The inheritance of dominant alleles can demonstrate Mendelian patterns, specifically in cases where only one dominant allele is required to express the trait. However, the presence of a dominant allele does not necessarily imply its universal prevalence in a population. Additionally, it's important to note that the designation of an allele as dominant or recessive can vary depending on the specific trait being considered, as certain traits may involve complex interactions or co-dominant inheritance.
Common Misspellings for DOMINANT ALLELE
- sominant allele
- xominant allele
- cominant allele
- fominant allele
- rominant allele
- eominant allele
- diminant allele
- dkminant allele
- dlminant allele
- dpminant allele
- d0minant allele
- d9minant allele
- doninant allele
- dokinant allele
- dojinant allele
- domunant allele
- domjnant allele
- domknant allele
- domonant allele
- dom9nant allele
Etymology of DOMINANT ALLELE
The etymology of the word "dominant" traces back to the Latin word "dominans", which is the present participle form of the verb "dominare", meaning "to rule" or "to dominate". The term "dominant allele" refers to an allele that is expressed in the phenotype even if only one copy is present in the genotype, thereby "dominating" or overshadowing the expression of any other alleles.
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