CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> <title>Some genes are dominant :: DNA from the Beginning</title> <meta name="description" content="Mendel identifies dominant and recessive genes." /> <link rel="preload" as="style" src="/css/main.css"> <link rel="preload" as="script" src="/js/swfobject.js"> <link rel="preload" as="script" src="/js/prototype-1.6.1.js"> <link href="/css/main.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <link href='https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Droid+Serif' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css'/> <link href='https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Droid+Sans' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css'/> <script type="text/javascript" src="/js/swfobject.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/js/prototype-1.6.1.js"></script> </head> <body> <div id="container"> <div id="content"> <div id="header"> <div class="rollover-home"> <a href="/" class="rollover-home" title="DNA from the Beginning Home"><span class="displace">Home</span></a> </div> </div>  <div id="content-container"> <h1><span> Concept 4</span> Some genes are dominant.</h1> <div id="nav"> <ul> <li class="menu1"><a href="index.html" title="CONCEPT" ><span class="displace">CONCEPT</span></a></li> <li class="menu2"><a href="animation.html" title="ANIMATION"><span class="displace">ANIMATION</span></a></li> <li class="menu3"><a href="gallery.html" title="GALLERY"><span class="displace">GALLERY</span></a></li> <li class="menu4"><a href="av.html" title="VIDEO"><span class="displace">VIDEO</span></a></li> <li class="menu5"><a href="bio.html" title="BIO"><span class="displace">BIO</span></a></li> <li class="menu6"><a href="problem.html" title="PROBLEM"><span class="displace">PROBLEM</span></a></li> <li class="menu7"><a href="links.html" title="LINKS" ><span class="displace">LINKS</span></a></li> </ul> <br class="clearfloat" /> </div> <div id="concept"> <img src="/images/4/concept4.jpg" class="concept-image" alt="Some genes are dominant." /> <p>Mendel believed that genes behave like atoms that compose a pure substance. Genes can combine in various ways, but always maintain their distinct identities. For example, in a cross between two pure-bred parents with different traits like seed color, the hybrid offspring would have both the gene alternates for green and yellow seed color. </p> <p>Why then do offspring from such a cross have only yellow seeds? Mendel proposed that although both gene alternates are present, there is no blending of color because the gene alternate for yellow is "dominant" over the gene alternate for green. The dominant trait is seen whenever a single copy of its gene is inherited. When he crossed the hybrid offspring, green seeds reappeared in the next generation. Mendel reasoned that the "recessive" green trait is shown only when a copy of the recessive gene form is inherited from each parent.</p> </div> </div> <br class="clearfloat" /> <div id="footer"> <ul> <li><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/sitemap.html">Site Map</a></li> <li><a href="/scientists.html">Scientists</a></li> <li><a href="/glossary.html">Glossary</a></li> <li><a href="/feedback.html">Feedback</a></li> <li><a href="/awards.html">Awards</a></li> <li><a href="/credits.html">Credits</a></li> <li><a href="http://blogs.dnalc.org/dnaftb/" style="background-image:none;">Blog</a></li> </ul> <p> Funded by <a href="http://macyfoundation.org">The Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation</a><br /> © 2002 - 2011, <a href="http://www.dnalc.org/"> DNA Learning Center</a>, <a href="https://www.cshl.edu/">Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</a>. All rights reserved. </p> </div>  </div> <div id="sidebar"> <div id="search" > <form method="get" action="/search"> <div class="fieldHolder1"> <input type="search" id="q" name="q" placeholder="Search" onclick="this.value=''" value="" /> <img style="background-color:#9C0;" src="/images/general/search_icon.jpg" alt="Search" onclick="document.forms[0].submit()" /> </div> </form> </div>  <div id="sidebar"> <ul class="sections-side sections-side1a" style="padding-top: 56px; margin-top: 3px;"> <li ><a href="/1/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/1-thumb-sm.png" alt="1." />Children resemble their parents.</a></li> <li ><a href="/2/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/2-thumb-sm.png" alt="2." />Genes come in pairs.</a></li> <li ><a href="/3/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/3-thumb-sm.png" alt="3." />Genes don't blend.</a></li> <li ><a class="concept-highlight" href="/4/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/4-thumb-sm.png" alt="4." />Some genes are dominant.</a></li> <li ><a href="/5/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/5-thumb-sm.png" alt="5." />Genetic inheritance follows rules.</a></li> <li ><a href="/6/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/6-thumb-sm.png" alt="6." />Genes are real things.</a></li> <li ><a href="/7/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/7-thumb-sm.png" alt="7." />All cells arise from pre-existing cells.</a></li> <li ><a href="/8/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/8-thumb-sm.png" alt="8." />Sex cells have one set of chromosomes; body cells have two.</a></li> <li ><a href="/9/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/9-thumb-sm.png" alt="9." />Specialized chromosomes determine sex.</a></li> <li ><a href="/10/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/10-thumb-sm.png" alt="10." />Chromosomes carry genes.</a></li> <li ><a href="/11/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/11-thumb-sm.png" alt="11." />Genes get shuffled when chromosomes exchange pieces.</a></li> <li ><a href="/12/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/12-thumb-sm.png" alt="12." />Evolution begins with the inheritance of gene variations.</a></li> <li ><a href="/13/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/13-thumb-sm.png" alt="13." />Mendelian laws apply to human beings.</a></li> <li style="border-bottom: 1px solid #669;"><a href="/14/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/14-thumb-sm.png" alt="14." />Mendelian genetics cannot fully explain human health and behavior.</a></li> </ul> <ul class="menu-side"> <li class="section2"><a href="/15/index.html" title="Molecules of Genetics"><span class="displace">MOLECULES OF GENETICS</span></a></li> <li class="section3" ><a href="/29/index.html" title="Genetic Organization and Control"><span class="displace">GENETIC ORGANIZATION AND CONTROL</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div>  <br class="clearfloat" /> </div>  <script type="text/javascript"> Event.observe(window, 'load', function() { var uri = '/4/index.html'; uri = uri.replace(/-\d/,''); $('nav').down().descendants().each(function(s) { if (s.nodeName == 'A') { if (s.href.match(uri)) { s.addClassName('current'); throw $break; } } }); }); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-1818773-10']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = 'https://www.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); </script>  <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-K6EHFCRJBP"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-K6EHFCRJBP'); </script> </body> </html>