Question

In an individual heterozygous at a particular gene, how many different alleles of that gene are present in the cell?

a. too many

b. 1

c. 2

d. 4

Answer 1

Answer is option C. 2

In an individual 2 alleles of a gene will exist ( given that the individual is diploid which most of the organisms are)

So a homozygous individual will have 2 of the same allele( either both dominant allele or both recessive allele) and a homozygous individual will have 2 different alleles.

For example assume that Ww alleles are responsible for flower color

W is dominant allele, is responsible for white color

w is recessive allele, is responsible for red color

So when the genotype ( the cell will have 2 alleles of the trait and the combination of the allele is called the genotype) is WW ( homozygous dominant) then the flower color will be white , when the genotype is ww( homozygous recessive) the flower color will be red, and when the genotype is Ww (heterozygous) then the dominant trait ( white) will be expressed.