AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -An individual inherits two alleles, one from each parent, for any given genomic location where such variation exists. If the two alleles are the same, the individual is homozygous for that allele. If the alleles are different, the individual is heterozygous.

Detailed explanation-2: -The variation and distribution of traits in a population depend on genetic and environmental factors. Genetic variation can result from mutations caused by environmental factors or errors in DNA replication, or from chromosomes swapping sections during meiosis.

Detailed explanation-3: -Each gene can have several variants, called alleles, which code for different variants of the trait in question. Genes reside in a cell’s chromosomes, each of which contains many genes.

Detailed explanation-4: -An organism with two different alleles for a specific trait is called heterozygous or hybrid. For example, if T is the dominant allele for a tall tea plant and t represents the allele for a short pea plant, then an organism with the Tt allele combination is heterozygous and will form a tall plea plant.

Detailed explanation-5: -Allele (biology definition): variant of a gene controlling the same trait and occupying a specific region on a chromosome (called the locus).