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Which of the following is always true of a mutation that produces a dominant allele? A - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 11 - 2019 - Paper 1
Question 11
Which of the following is always true of a mutation that produces a dominant allele? A. It will be lethal in a population. B. It will be expressed in heterozygous ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Which of the following is always true of a mutation that produces a dominant allele? A - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 11 - 2019 - Paper 1
Step 1
B. It will be expressed in heterozygous individuals.
Answer
A mutation that produces a dominant allele is characterized by its ability to influence the phenotype even when only one copy is present in a heterozygous state. This means that, unlike recessive alleles, dominant alleles manifest their effects in individuals that carry one or two copies of the allele. Therefore, the statement that the mutation will be expressed in heterozygous individuals is always true.
In contrast, the other options are not universally applicable:
- A: It will not necessarily be lethal; many dominant alleles are viable.
- C: This is incorrect because a dominant allele can also be expressed when present in a heterozygous condition.
- D: While dominant alleles can spread more quickly, this is not a guaranteed outcome, as it can depend on various environmental and selective factors.