Define homozygous

Homozygous refers to an organism that has inherited identical alleles for a particular gene from both parents. This genetic uniformity means that both copies of the gene carry the same variant, whether it's dominant or recessive. For example, if a plant has two alleles for tallness (TT), it is homozygous for that trait. In contrast, if it had one tall allele and one short allele (Tt), it would be heterozygous! In real-world applications, understanding whether a trait is homozygous can significantly impact areas like agriculture and medicine. For instance, in crop breeding, homozygous plants can produce more consistent yield and quality. In human genetics, identifying homozygous recessive traits can help in predicting genetic disorders and understanding inheritance patterns, leading to better family planning and health decisions.