Heterozygote

Heterozygote cells are diploid or polyploid and have different alleles at a locus (position) on homologous chromosomes.

To describe how a trait inherits, the dominant trait is indicated with a capital and the recessive with a lower case character. The colour of Mendel's peas are often indicated as PP for the dominant homozygote pink flower and pp for the recessive homozygote white flower. When these are crossed, the F1 or second generation will be heterozygote for the colour of the flower and this will be indicated with Pp. All F1 plants will flower pink.

Some traits are neither dominant nor recessive but are intermediary: the red carnation crossed with a white carnation will give you heterozygote pink carnations.

See also: homozygote.\n