An allele corresponds to the way in which a characteristic is presented within a gene, either dominant or recessive.
Recessive, term linked to dominance, describes a characteristic that is only expressed when there are two equal alleles for that character.
Genotype means all the information contained in the DNA and that determines the physical and functional characteristics of a species.
Explanation:
In genetics and inheritance the terms allele, recessive and genotype are linked, explaining how the information contained in the nucleus of a cell - in the form of DNA - can determine the physical and functional characteristics of living organisms, in addition to the differences between individuals of the same species.
What is an allele?
An allele constitutes the different ways in which genetic information is found within a gene, providing variety to that gene.
The gene corresponds to a fraction of the DNA molecule, with a specific nucleotide sequence that dictates how a characteristic will develop in an organism.
Alleles with dominant, recessive or both forms can be found within a gene. When the alleles are equal, the individual carrying it is called homozygous, while when the alleles are different the individual will be heterozygous.
The alleles are linked to inheritance, since each parent can contribute an allele, and the union of both will determine the characteristics of the offspring, which also implies genetic variability.
What does recessive mean?
Recessive -applied to one of the ways in which a characteristic is found in a gene- means the determinant that needs to be in its homozygous form in order to express itself in the phenotype of an individual.
The term recessive is contrary to the dominant one, whose quality is to mask the expression of non-dominant alleles. In dominance, both dominant and recessive alleles can be found in a gene, and there are three ways in which they can occur:
Dominant homozygous: the two alleles are dominant characteristics for a species.
Heterozygous: A dominant and a recessive allele, which determines the expression of the dominant characteristic.
Homozygous recessive: or simply recessive, in the absence of dominant alleles for that characteristic, the recessive characteristic appears in the phenotype.What does genotype mean?
Genotype means the distribution of genetic information within the DNA molecule. In each DNA molecule there is a nucleotide sequence that is specific to each species and different from one individual to another, useful for the construction of a living organism.
A chromosome corresponds to a DNA molecule, and the genes that belong to that chromosome are fractions of the DNA that form it.
The genotype, then, applies to the information found in the DNA, chromosomes and genes of an individual, determining its appearance and organic functions.
Learn more:
Genotype genes phenotype link
Allele Relationship link
