Question

Question

A student claims that dominant traits are always the most common traits. Is this true? Why or why not?(1 point)

Responses

No, dominant traits in general tend to be less common in the population and continue to persist only because they are dominant over more common recessive alleles.

No, dominant traits in general tend to be less common in the population and continue to persist only because they are dominant over more common recessive alleles.

Yes, dominant traits became more common over time as they are passed down from generation to generation; recessive alleles continue to become less common over time.

Yes, dominant traits became more common over time as they are passed down from generation to generation; recessive alleles continue to become less common over time.

No, dominant traits only show up if they are inherited; how common they are is not influenced by this.

No, dominant traits only show up if they are inherited; how common they are is not influenced by this.

Yes, dominant traits are called dominant because they are the most common.

Answer 1

The correct response to the student's claim is:

No, dominant traits in general tend to be less common in the population and continue to persist only because they are dominant over more common recessive alleles.

This is true because the prevalence of a trait in a population (how common it is) is influenced by factors such as natural selection, genetic drift, and mutation, not merely by whether a trait is dominant or recessive. A dominant trait can be less common than a recessive trait if the recessive trait has some advantage in certain environments or if it has been historically more prevalent in the population for any reason.