What is codominance in genetic inheritance?

What is codominance in genetic inheritance?

• A. Codominance occurs when neither allele is expressed in the phenotype
• B. Codominance results when both alleles in the heterozygote are fully expressed
• C. Codominance leads to a blended phenotype
• D. Codominance is a variation of incomplete dominance

Answer: (B)

Codominance refers to a genetic scenario in which both alleles in a heterozygous individual are fully expressed, resulting in traits from both alleles being visible in the phenotype. This means that instead of one allele being dominant over the other, both contribute equally to the individual's characteristics. A classic example of codominance is seen in blood types, where individuals with both A and B alleles exhibit both A and B antigens on their red blood cells, leading to the AB blood type. In contrast, scenarios such as incomplete dominance involve blending of traits, where the phenotype is an intermediate between the two alleles rather than having both traits distinctly visible. Thus, while codominance showcases the traits from both alleles side by side without blending, incomplete dominance results in a phenotype that appears as a mixture of the two, exemplifying the difference between these genetic patterns.

Codominance refers to a genetic scenario in which both alleles in a heterozygous individual are fully expressed, resulting in traits from both alleles being visible in the phenotype. This means that instead of one allele being dominant over the other, both contribute equally to the individual's characteristics. A classic example of codominance is seen in blood types, where individuals with both A and B alleles exhibit both A and B antigens on their red blood cells, leading to the AB blood type.

In contrast, scenarios such as incomplete dominance involve blending of traits, where the phenotype is an intermediate between the two alleles rather than having both traits distinctly visible. Thus, while codominance showcases the traits from both alleles side by side without blending, incomplete dominance results in a phenotype that appears as a mixture of the two, exemplifying the difference between these genetic patterns.