Quote Originally Posted by stinkyattic
For each trait, there are 2 possible genes, a dominant and a recessive. Combined, there are 3 possible combinations, homozygous dominant expressing the dominant trait, heterozygous expressing the dominant trait also but carrying the potential for recessive in the next generation, and homozygous recessive, expressing the recessive trait. These 3 genotypes are visible as only 2 phenotypes.

This is actually incorrect. For example, purple bud is not a dominant trait but it is highly deisrable to breeders, and if you take a recessive gene for purple bud (g) whose dominant counterpart is green bud (G) we will see these possible combos:
GG= green bud
Gg, gG= green bud
gg= purple bud
The trick is to cross the heterozygous ones- simply, you can allow random mating in a large population and see about 25% of the plants show purple bud; those are homozygous recessive and show the phenotype of a trait you WANT.
Don't confuse recessive and undesirable.


You can, it is done often, and it just takes a little working knowledge of genetics.


Potential for expressing a vertain trait is genetic (for example a plant that turns purple in cold temps). The environmental factors simply allow or prevent expression of a certain trait.
Here I think you are misusing the term 'phenotype'... a stable STRAIN - let's think of it as an isolated population for argument's sake- can show different expressed traits under different conditions. A phenotype is just a distinct set of traits common to certain individuals within that population.

Anyway hopw that sorta helps.
Thank you for clearing all that up. I had a feeling recessive genes might be desirable in some cases but wasn't sure. But I'm still not completely sure I understand the part regarding environmental factors. So what causes a recessive trait to win out over a dominate one? Is it just randomly programmed into the seed at the time of it's creation?
socket Reviewed by socket on . phenotypes for beginners I'm still a beginner myself, but I've been a little confused about the way people use the term phenotypes when talking about seed suppliers. So I did some research for myself and wanted to share. If any experts would help me along or correct any bad information I would be grateful for that. So lets start with the most obvious question. What is a phenotype? Boiled down to an overly simple answer it's basically any distinct trait about an organism you can observe and classify. This Rating: 5