For an individual having a genotype formed of two different alleles that condition different varieties of the same phenotypical trait, upon what will the phenotypical feature actually manifested depend?
If an individual presents a gene having different alleles (common situation), for example, A and A’, three types of genotypes may be formed: AA, A’A’ and AA’. The question refers to an individual bearing a genotype made of two different alleles, so it is the AA’ genotype (the heterozygous individual). This AA’ individual may manifest the phenotype conditioned by the allele A or the phenotype conditioned by the allele A’ or still a mixed phenotype of those two forms. If the allele A is dominant over the allele A’ the form conditioned by A will manifest. If A’ is the dominant allele, the form determined by A’ will manifest. This phenomenon is known as dominance and occurs because the recessive (nondominant) allele manifests only when present in double in the genotype (in homozygosity), while the dominant allele manifests even when in heterozygosity. If none of the alleles dominate a mixture of the two varieties conditioned by both alleles appears or instead a third form may come out.
