Homozygote vs. Heterozygote:
Homozygote:
* Definition: An individual with two identical alleles for a particular trait.
* Example: A person with two copies of the allele for brown eyes (BB) is homozygous for brown eyes.
Heterozygote:
* Definition: An individual with two different alleles for a particular trait.
* Example: A person with one allele for brown eyes (B) and one allele for blue eyes (b) is heterozygous for eye color.
Key Differences:
* Allele composition: Homozygotes have two of the same alleles, while heterozygotes have two different alleles.
* Phenotype expression: In some cases, the phenotype (observable trait) of a homozygote will differ from that of a heterozygote. For example, in the case of eye color, a homozygous dominant individual (BB) will have brown eyes, while a heterozygous individual (Bb) will also have brown eyes. However, this is not always the case; sometimes, the phenotype of a heterozygote is a blend of the two alleles or is different from either homozygous phenotype.
In summary:
The terms homozygote and heterozygote refer to the genetic makeup of an individual regarding a particular trait. Homozygotes have two identical alleles, while heterozygotes have two different alleles. These differences can impact the phenotype expressed for the trait.