Which term represents a pair of contrasting characters?a)Heterozygousb...
The term that represents a pair of contrasting characters is 4. Allelomorphs. Allelomorphs, also known as alleles, are alternative forms of a gene that occupy the same locus on a specific chromosome and determine different variations of a particular trait. Allelomorphs can be contrasting in terms of their phenotypic expression, such as dominant and recessive alleles.
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Which term represents a pair of contrasting characters?a)Heterozygousb...
Allelomorphs as Contrasting Characters
Allelomorphs, also known as alleles, are different forms of a gene that can occupy the same locus on a chromosome. When an individual inherits two different alleles for a particular gene, they are said to be heterozygous for that trait. This can lead to the expression of contrasting traits, making allelomorphs a pair of contrasting characters.
Heterozygous vs Homozygous
- Homozygous individuals possess two identical alleles for a particular gene, leading to the expression of the same trait. In contrast, heterozygous individuals have two different alleles, which can result in the expression of contrasting traits.
- For example, if we consider the gene for flower color in pea plants, where the allele for purple flowers (P) is dominant over the allele for white flowers (p), a homozygous individual with PP alleles will have purple flowers, while a heterozygous individual with Pp alleles will have contrasting purple and white flowers.
Codominant Genes
- Codominant genes refer to a situation where both alleles in a heterozygous individual are expressed fully and equally. This results in a phenotype that shows traits of both alleles simultaneously, without any blending.
- An example of codominance is the ABO blood group system, where individuals with AB blood type express both A and B antigens equally on their red blood cells.
In conclusion, allelomorphs represent a pair of contrasting characters because they can give rise to different traits in heterozygous individuals. This contrast is evident when comparing heterozygous individuals with homozygous individuals or those with codominant genes.