key term - Incomplete dominance

Definition

Incomplete dominance is a pattern of inheritance where the phenotype of the heterozygous genotype is intermediate between those of the two homozygous genotypes. Neither allele is completely dominant over the other, resulting in a blend of traits.

Related terms

Codominance:

A pattern of inheritance in which two alleles are expressed equally, resulting in a phenotype that displays characteristics of both alleles.

Phenotype:

The observable physical or physiological traits of an organism, which result from the interaction between its genetic makeup and the environment.

Allele:

One of two or more alternative forms of a gene that arise by mutation and are found at the same place on a chromosome