When both alleles for a gene are the same, this condition is known as?

When both alleles for a gene are the same, the condition is known as homozygous. This term indicates that an individual has inherited identical alleles from both parents for a specific gene. For example, if an organism has two alleles for the gene for flower color that are both red (represented as RR) or both white (represented as rr), it is considered homozygous for that trait.

In contrast, heterozygous refers to the situation where the alleles for a gene are different (for instance, one red and one white allele). A polymer is unrelated to genetics in terms of allele combinations; it typically refers to a large molecule made up of repeating subunits. The term phenotype describes the observable characteristics or traits of an organism, resulting from the interaction of its genotype and the environment, rather than the specific allele combinations. Understanding these definitions helps clarify the terminology used in genetics and the relationships between alleles.