DOMINANT GENES Meaning and
Definition
-
Dominant genes refer to specific traits or characteristics that are determined by a single gene and are visible or expressed in an organism's phenotype, even if only one copy of the gene is present. In genetics, genes exist in pairs, one inherited from each parent. These pairs can be either homozygous (having two identical copies of the gene) or heterozygous (having two different copies of the gene). Dominant genes are the ones that are more influential in determining the phenotype of an organism when paired with a different type of gene.
When a dominant gene is present in an organism, its trait will be observed or manifested, even if it is paired with a recessive gene. On the other hand, recessive genes are only expressed in the phenotype if an individual has two copies of the gene.
Dominance in genetics is a result of the structure and function of genes. Dominant genes tend to be expressed at a higher frequency in populations as they are more likely to be passed on to future generations. This can result in the dominance of certain traits within a population.
The concept of dominant genes is fundamental in understanding inheritance patterns and predicting the likelihood of certain traits being passed down from parents to offspring. By studying dominant genes and their interplay with recessive genes, geneticists and biologists can gain insights into the inheritance of characteristics, the occurrence of genetic disorders, and the variability within populations.
Common Misspellings for DOMINANT GENES
- sominant genes
- xominant genes
- cominant genes
- fominant genes
- rominant genes
- eominant genes
- diminant genes
- dkminant genes
- dlminant genes
- dpminant genes
- d0minant genes
- d9minant genes
- doninant genes
- dokinant genes
- dojinant genes
- domunant genes
- domjnant genes
- domknant genes
- domonant genes
- dom9nant genes
Etymology of DOMINANT GENES
The term "dominant genes" does not have a specific etymology as it is a combination of two scientific concepts. However, we can explore the origin of each component separately:
1. Dominant: The term "dominant" comes from the Latin word "dominans", which means ruling or reigning. It was first used in the field of genetics by the Austrian monk Gregor Mendel, known as the father of genetics. In the mid-19th century, Mendel conducted experiments on pea plants and discovered certain traits that appeared to dominate, or overpower, other traits. He termed these traits as "dominant", while the suppressed ones were called "recessive".
2. Genes: The term "genes" originates from the German word "gen" coined by the Danish scientist Wilhelm Johannsen in 1905.
