Homozygote

Homozygote

A Homozygote is an individual organism that has two identical alleles for a specific genetic trait. This can occur for any gene, including those that determine physical characteristics or those that cause certain genetic diseases.

Genetics of Homozygotes

In genetics, a homozygote is an organism that has inherited the same alleles from both parents for a particular genetic trait. This can occur in both dominant and recessive traits. If an individual is homozygous for a dominant trait, they will express that trait. If they are homozygous for a recessive trait, they will also express that trait, as there is no dominant allele to mask the recessive one.

Homozygosity and Disease

Certain genetic diseases are caused by being homozygous for a particular recessive allele. These diseases are often referred to as autosomal recessive disorders. Examples of such disorders include cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, and Tay-Sachs disease. In these cases, an individual must inherit the disease-causing allele from both parents in order to express the disease.

Homozygosity in Breeding

In animal breeding and plant breeding, homozygosity is often desirable as it can help to stabilize desirable traits within a population. However, too much homozygosity can lead to inbreeding depression, which can decrease the overall fitness of a population.

See Also

• Heterozygote
• Genotype
• Phenotype
• Allele
• Dominant gene
• Recessive gene
• Autosomal recessive
• Inbreeding depression

Homozygote Resources
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