genetic diagrams

• most characteristics are controlled by several genes interacting
• all genes exist in different versions called alleles
• you have two alleles of every gene in your body. one on each chromosome in a pair.
• if an organism has two alleles for a particular gene that are the same, its homozygous
• if it's two alleles of a particular gene that are different , it's heterozygous
• if two alleles are different, only one can determine what characteristics are presented. the dominant allele represents gene shown. shown with a capital letter. the other is recessive , lowercase letter
• for an organism to display a recessive characteristic, both alleles must b recessive. However, dominant allele with overrule the recessive one if the organism is heterozygous
• your genotype is the combination of alleles you have. your alleles work at a molecular level to determine what characteristics you have, this is your phenotype (shows)