What is a heterozygous genotype?

A heterozygous genotype is defined as having two different alleles for a specific gene. This means that for a given trait, an organism inherits one allele from each parent, and these alleles are not the same. For example, if one parent contributes an allele for brown eyes, and the other contributes an allele for blue eyes, the resulting genotype would be heterozygous.

This diversity in alleles can result in different phenotypic expressions depending on the dominance relationships between the alleles. In many cases, one allele may be dominant and the other recessive, which can influence the physical traits observed in the organism. Therefore, the concept of heterozygosity is crucial in genetics, as it introduces variation that can be beneficial for a population's adaptability and evolution.