A student claims that dominant traits are always the most common traits. Is this true? Why or why not? (1 point)
O Yes, dominant traits are called dominant because they are the most common.
Yes, dominant traits became more common over time as they are passed down from generation to generation; recessive alleles continue to become less common over time.
No, dominant traits only show up if they are inherited; how common they are is not influenced by this.
No, dominant traits in general tend to be less common in the population and continue to persist only because they are dominant over more common recessive alleles.
The correct answer is:
No, dominant traits in general tend to be less common in the population and continue to persist only because they are dominant over more common recessive alleles.
This is because the dominance of a trait is determined by its ability to express itself in the presence of a recessive allele. Dominant traits can appear less frequently in a population compared to recessive traits, but they are able to persist because they can be expressed even if only one copy of the allele is present. In contrast, recessive traits require two copies of the allele to be expressed. Thus, the frequency of a trait in a population is not solely determined by its dominance.
The correct answer is: No, dominant traits in general tend to be less common in the population and continue to persist only because they are dominant over more common recessive alleles.
This is because dominant traits only show up if they are inherited, and how common they are is not influenced by this. Dominance refers to the expression of a trait when an individual has one or two copies of the dominant allele, while recessive traits require two copies of the recessive allele for expression. Therefore, it is possible for a recessive trait to be more common in a population even if it is not expressed as frequently as the dominant trait. Additionally, the frequency of a trait in a population is determined by various factors such as natural selection, mutation rates, and genetic recombination, rather than simply by whether the trait is dominant or recessive.
The correct answer is: No, dominant traits in general tend to be less common in the population and continue to persist only because they are dominant over more common recessive alleles.
To understand why this is true, let's first define what dominant and recessive traits are. In genetics, traits refer to specific physical or chemical characteristics that are determined by genes. Each gene can have different versions, called alleles. When it comes to dominant and recessive traits, it is important to understand how these alleles interact.
Dominant traits are those that are expressed in an individual if they have at least one copy of the dominant allele. This means that even if there is one dominant allele and one recessive allele, the dominant trait will be observed. On the other hand, recessive traits are only expressed when an individual has two copies of the recessive allele.
Now, let's consider why dominant traits are not always the most common traits. In a population, the occurrence of a trait depends on the frequency of its corresponding alleles. If a dominant allele is more common in a population, then the dominant trait associated with that allele will also be more common. However, there are several factors that can influence the frequency of alleles in a population.
One important factor is genetic drift, which refers to random changes in allele frequencies over time. Genetic drift can lead to the increase or decrease of certain alleles, regardless of whether they are dominant or recessive. Therefore, the frequency of alleles does not solely determine the prevalence of dominant traits.
Another factor is natural selection. If a recessive trait provides a selective advantage to individuals in a certain environment, it is possible for the recessive trait to become more common over time. This is because individuals with the recessive allele will be more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their alleles to the next generation.
In summary, dominant traits are not always the most common traits because their prevalence depends on many factors, including the frequency of the dominant allele, genetic drift, and natural selection.