When two alleles are identical, they are said to be?

When two alleles are identical, the correct term to describe this condition is "homozygous." This means that the individual has inherited the same version of a gene from both parents for a specific trait. For instance, if both alleles are for blue eyes, the person is homozygous for the eye color trait, as they possess two identical alleles (e.g., BB or bb).

Heterozygous would refer to having two different alleles for the same trait (e.g., Bb), which signifies genetic variation between the alleles. Homologous typically describes the matching pairs of chromosomes, each carrying the same genes, but it does not specifically address the identity of the alleles themselves. Dominant refers to the relationship between alleles where one masks the effect of another when they are both present (e.g., a dominant allele can mask a recessive one).

Thus, understanding that homozygous indicates identical alleles is crucial for grasping basic genetic principles, especially in genetics and inheritance patterns.