Incomplete dominance occurs when one allele is not completely dominant over the other, or blending occurs (e.g., Red + White = Pink). Which choice best describes this pattern?

Incomplete dominance occurs when one allele is not completely dominant over the other, or blending occurs (e.g., Red + White = Pink). Which choice best describes this pattern?

• A. One allele is completely dominant over the other
• B. One allele is not completely dominant and blending occurs
• C. Both alleles are expressed equally
• D. Traits segregate independently

Answer: (B)

Incomplete dominance is when neither allele completely masks the other, so the heterozygote shows an intermediate phenotype. The statement that best describes this pattern is that one allele is not completely dominant and blending occurs, because the offspring’s trait sits between the two parental traits (like red + white yielding pink). This contrasts with complete dominance, where one trait fully masks the other; and with codominance, where both alleles are expressed distinctly rather than blending. Independent assortment is about how different traits segregate, not about dominance relationships.

Incomplete dominance is when neither allele completely masks the other, so the heterozygote shows an intermediate phenotype. The statement that best describes this pattern is that one allele is not completely dominant and blending occurs, because the offspring’s trait sits between the two parental traits (like red + white yielding pink). This contrasts with complete dominance, where one trait fully masks the other; and with codominance, where both alleles are expressed distinctly rather than blending. Independent assortment is about how different traits segregate, not about dominance relationships.