Which term describes an individual with different alleles for a gene?

• A. Homogeneous
• B. Homozygous
• C. Heterozygous
• D. Hemizygous

Answer: (C)

The correct term for an individual with different alleles for a gene is "heterozygous." In genetics, alleles are variations of a gene that may produce distinguishable phenotypic effects. When an organism carries two different alleles for a single gene, such as one allele inherited from each parent, it is classified as heterozygous.

This term is significant because it helps to understand factors influencing traits and shows how variation can occur in an organism’s genotype. Heterozygosity can have important implications for genetics and inheritance patterns, allowing for a greater range of phenotypes to be expressed in a population, which can be advantageous for adaptation and survival.

The other terms refer to different genetic scenarios: "homogeneous" is not a standard term used in genetics, "homozygous" describes an individual with identical alleles for a gene, and "hemizygous" typically refers to the presence of only one allele for a gene in a diploid organism, such as genes located on the X chromosome in males. Understanding these distinctions clarifies the different genetic configurations that exist within individual organisms.