how are the terms homozygous and heteroygous diffrent
The terms homozygous and heterozygous describe the genetic makeup of an individual with respect to a specific gene or trait. Here are the differences between the two terms:
1. Homozygous: In a homozygous individual, both alleles (alternative forms of a gene) for a specific trait are identical. It means that both alleles can be either dominant or recessive. For example, if an individual has two dominant alleles (AA) for a trait, they are said to be homozygous dominant. On the other hand, if an individual has two recessive alleles (aa) for a trait, they are homozygous recessive.
2. Heterozygous: In a heterozygous individual, the alleles for a specific trait are different. It means that one allele is dominant, while the other is recessive. For example, if an individual has one dominant allele (A) and one recessive allele (a) for a trait, they are termed heterozygous.
In summary, homozygous refers to having two identical alleles (either dominant or recessive), whereas heterozygous refers to having two different alleles (one dominant and one recessive) for a specific gene or trait.