Inheritance and Genetic Concepts
This page introduces fundamental concepts in genetics, focusing on inheritance patterns and genetic terminology essential for A level Biology.
Genotype and Phenotype
Definition: The genotype is the genetic constitution of an organism, while the phenotype is the expression of the genotype and its interaction with the environment.
Alleles and Homologous Chromosomes
Alleles are variants of a particular gene. In diploid organisms, chromosomes form pairs called homologous chromosomes.
Vocabulary: Homozygous alleles are the same type at a specific locus (e.g., BB or bb), while heterozygous alleles are different (e.g., Bb).
Dominant and Recessive Alleles
Definition: A dominant allele is expressed in the phenotype of a heterozygote, while a recessive allele requires two copies for expression.
Co-dominant Alleles
Co-dominant alleles are equally expressed in the phenotype, resulting in a blend of characteristics or both being seen together.
Example: Blood group AB is an example of co-dominance.
This page provides a solid foundation for understanding genetics A level Biology notes, covering essential concepts that will be built upon in subsequent sections.