gen-state-dominant-and-recessive-alleles-precisely-and-explain-w-788f

State dominant and recessive alleles precisely and explain why it matters in 2-3 sentences.

# Dominant and Recessive Alleles **Dominant allele**: An allele that expresses its phenotype even when only one copy is present (heterozygous condition). **Recessive allele**: An allele that expresses its phenotype only when two copies are present (homozygous condition); it is masked by a dominant allele. ## Why It Matters This matters because it determines inheritance patterns and disease risk—carriers with one recessive disease allele appear healthy but can pass it to offspring, while dominant disorders can appear in every generation. Understanding this distinction is crucial for genetic counseling, predicting trait inheritance, and assessing the likelihood of genetic conditions in families.