What term describes an individual with two identical alleles?

• A. Heterozygous
• B. Homozygous
• C. Dominant
• D. Recessive

Answer: (B)

An individual with two identical alleles is described as homozygous. This term is used in genetics to indicate that the alleles for a particular gene are the same, which can be either dominant or recessive alleles. For example, if an individual has two alleles for a trait that code for blue eyes (bb), they are homozygous recessive for that trait. Conversely, if they have two alleles that code for brown eyes (BB), they are homozygous dominant. This characteristic contrasts with heterozygous individuals, who have two different alleles for the same gene, such as one for brown eyes and one for blue (Bb). Identifying whether an individual is homozygous or heterozygous is essential for predicting the inheritance patterns of traits, as homozygous individuals will consistently pass on the same allele to their offspring.