How are the terms homozygous and heterozygous different
The terms homozygous and heterozygous are related to the genetic makeup of an individual or organism.
1. Homozygous: It refers to a condition where an individual has two identical alleles for a particular gene. These alleles can be either dominant (represented by uppercase letters) or recessive (represented by lowercase letters). For example, if an individual has two dominant alleles (AA) or two recessive alleles (aa), then they are said to be homozygous for that gene. Homozygous individuals produce identical gametes during reproduction.
2. Heterozygous: It refers to a condition where an individual has two different alleles for a particular gene. One allele is usually dominant while the other is recessive. For example, if an individual has one dominant allele and one recessive allele (Aa), then they are said to be heterozygous for that gene. Heterozygous individuals produce different types of gametes, with one type carrying the dominant allele and the other type carrying the recessive allele.
In summary, the main difference between homozygous and heterozygous is that homozygous individuals have two identical alleles for a particular gene, while heterozygous individuals have two different alleles for the same gene.