Let's break it down:
* Allele: A variant form of a gene. For example, the gene for eye color might have an allele for brown eyes and an allele for blue eyes.
* Homozygous: This means the organism carries two copies of the same allele for a specific trait.
Examples:
* BB: An organism with two alleles for brown eyes (BB) is homozygous dominant.
* bb: An organism with two alleles for blue eyes (bb) is homozygous recessive.
In contrast, heterozygous: means the organism carries two different alleles for a specific trait (e.g., Bb for brown eyes).
Why is it important?
Understanding whether an organism is homozygous or heterozygous is important for:
* Predicting inheritance patterns: Knowing the genotypes of parents allows us to predict the possible genotypes and phenotypes (observable traits) of their offspring.
* Understanding genetic disorders: Some genetic disorders are caused by recessive alleles. Homozygous recessive individuals will express the disorder, while heterozygous individuals may be carriers but not show symptoms.
Let me know if you have any further questions!