This definition is correct for recessive genes but does not cover codominant and dominant genes.Originally Posted by Lizardlicks
Genes come in pairs. All gene pairs are either homozygous or heterozygous.
Standard genetics definitions.
homozygous = the two genes in a gene pair are the same.
heterozygous = the two genes in a gene pair are not the same.
Two genes, A and a, make three gene pairs--AA (homozygous), Aa (heterozygous), and aa (homozygous).
The A gene is dominant to the a gene if an individual with the Aa gene pair looks like an individual with the AA gene pair.
The a gene is recessive to the A gene if an individual with the Aa gene pair looks like an individual with the AA gene pair.
The A and a genes are codominant to each other if an individual with the Aa gene pair can be distinguished from individuals with either the AA or aa gene pair.
A ball python has approximately 20000 gene pairs. A normal gene is the most common gene in a given gene pair in the wild population. A mutant gene is NOT the most common gene in a given gene pair in the wild population.
Pied is a mutant gene that is recessive to the normal gene. The letter a could be used to symbolize the pied gene, and the letter A could be used to symbolize the corresponding normal gene. The gene pair AA = genetically normal and looks normal. The gene pair Aa = genetically heterozygous for pied and looks normal. The gene pair aa = genetically pied and has areas of white skin (pied).
Super means homozygous for a codominant mutant gene.
