heterosügootsus

Heterosügootsus, also known as heterozygosity, refers to a genetic state where an individual carries two different alleles for a particular gene. Alleles are different versions of the same gene. For example, a gene that determines eye color might have an allele for brown eyes and an allele for blue eyes. If an individual inherits one allele for brown eyes from one parent and one allele for blue eyes from the other parent, they are heterozygous for that gene. This contrasts with homozygosity, where an individual has two identical alleles for a gene, either two for brown eyes or two for blue eyes. Heterozygosity plays a significant role in genetic diversity within populations and can influence the expression of traits. In some cases, the heterozygous state can lead to a blended phenotype, while in others, one allele may be dominant and mask the effect of the other. The study of heterozygosity is fundamental to understanding inheritance patterns and evolutionary processes.