What does the Law of Codominance imply about allele expression?

What does the Law of Codominance imply about allele expression?

• A. One allele masks the other
• B. Both alleles are expressed equally
• C. Neither allele is expressed
• D. Only dominant alleles are passed on

Answer: (B)

The concept of codominance refers to a scenario where both alleles contribute to the phenotype of an organism without one overshadowing the other. In this situation, each allele is fully expressed, leading to a distinct phenotype that showcases the traits associated with both alleles. For example, in instances like the ABO blood group system, individuals with the genotype IAIB express both the A and B antigens on the surface of their red blood cells. This contrast with situations involving dominance, where one allele would mask the expression of another, emphasizes the unique nature of codominance. Therefore, the correct interpretation of codominance is that both alleles are expressed equally, providing a clear picture of the genetic contribution from each parent.

The concept of codominance refers to a scenario where both alleles contribute to the phenotype of an organism without one overshadowing the other. In this situation, each allele is fully expressed, leading to a distinct phenotype that showcases the traits associated with both alleles.

For example, in instances like the ABO blood group system, individuals with the genotype IAIB express both the A and B antigens on the surface of their red blood cells. This contrast with situations involving dominance, where one allele would mask the expression of another, emphasizes the unique nature of codominance.

Therefore, the correct interpretation of codominance is that both alleles are expressed equally, providing a clear picture of the genetic contribution from each parent.