Define dominant and recessive genes.List two characteristics that develop due to the interplay of genetically inherited factors.

Dominant and recessive genes are terms used to describe the inheritance patterns of certain traits in genetics. These terms relate to alleles, which are different versions of a gene that can exist at a specific locus (position) on a chromosome.

Dominant genes are alleles that express their phenotype (observable characteristics) even when only one copy is present in the genotype. This means that if an individual inherits a dominant allele from one parent and a recessive allele from the other, the trait associated with the dominant allele will be expressed. Dominant alleles are typically represented by a capital letter (e.g., "A" for the dominant allele).

Recessive genes, on the other hand, are alleles that only express their phenotype when two copies are present, meaning the individual must inherit the recessive allele from both parents for the trait to be expressed. If an individual has one dominant and one recessive allele, the recessive trait will not be visible. Recessive alleles are usually represented by a lowercase letter (e.g., "a" for the recessive allele).

It's important to note that the terms "dominant" and "recessive" do not imply that one allele is better or stronger than the other; they simply refer to how they are expressed in the phenotype.

Two characteristics that develop due to the interplay of genetically inherited factors are:

1. Eye Color: Eye color is a trait that is determined by the interplay of multiple genes. The brown eye color allele is generally dominant over alleles for blue or green eyes. Therefore, a person with a genotype consisting of a brown allele (B) and a blue allele (b) would typically have brown eyes because the brown allele is dominant. However, the exact shade of brown, green, or blue can be influenced by other genes and the interactions between them, making eye color a complex trait.

2. Blood Type: Human blood type is determined by the presence or absence of certain antigens on the surface of red blood cells. The ABO blood group system is governed by a gene that has three different alleles: A, B, and O. The A and B alleles are codominant, meaning that if an individual inherits both, they will have type AB blood and express both A and B antigens. The O allele is recessive; it does not produce any antigens. Therefore, a person with an AO genotype will have type A blood, and a person with a BO genotype will have type B blood, as the A and B alleles are expressed over the O allele. A person with two O alleles (OO) will have type O blood.

These examples illustrate how the combination of dominant, recessive, and codominant alleles can lead to the expression of specific traits in an individual. The interplay of these genetic factors, along with environmental influences, contributes to the diversity of phenotypes observed in a population.