{"id":26811,"date":"2023-05-12T13:27:54","date_gmt":"2023-05-12T17:27:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/genomequebec.com\/?post_type=educative-content&p=26811"},"modified":"2025-10-06T14:14:45","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T18:14:45","slug":"reproduction-and-heredity","status":"publish","type":"educative-content","link":"https:\/\/genomequebec.com\/en\/educative-content\/educational-space\/learn-more\/reproduction-and-heredity\/","title":{"rendered":"Reproduction and heredity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Heredity: The basics  <\/strong>  <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt isn\u2019t my fault if I have a bad temper\u2014I got it from my parents!\u201d<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Heredity is the passing on of characteristics from one generation to the next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These characteristics are determined by the two sets of genes we inherit from our two biological parents\u2014one from each. If both copies are identical, we are said to be homozygous for that gene. If we have two different copies, we are heterozygous for that gene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Alleles: The palette of your genetic makeup<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

There can be many variants of the same gene. These are called alleles<\/a>. Alleles can be influenced by multiple factors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Other alleles<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. The environment<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The two alleles in a cell can influence each other through a relationship of dominance and recessiveness. If an individual has one dominant<\/a> allele and one recessive<\/a> allele, the dominant allele will be expressed, which means it will become the observed trait. A recessive allele will only be expressed in the absence of a dominant allele.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The environment inside and outside the cell can also influence alleles without changing their sequence. Factors such as the cell\u2019s location in the body, pollution and stress can increase or decrease the expression of a gene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Genotype as the script, phenotype as the performance<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n