What is an Allele?

Trait

A characteristic that an organism can pass on to its offspring through its genes.

Recessive Allele

An allele that is masked when a dominant allele is present

Dominant Allele

An allele whose trait always shows up in the organism when the allele is present.

Genotype

An organism's genetic makeup or allele combinations

Phenotype

An organism's physical appearance, or visible traits.

Homozygous

Describes an organism that has two identical alleles for a trait

Heterozygous

Describes an organism with two different alleles for a trait.

Allele

Different forms of the same gene. A variation of a gene's nucleotide sequence (an alternative form of a gene).

Inheritance

The process by which physical and biological characteristics are transmitted from the parent (or parents) to the offspring