Characteristics that vary between dominant and recessive traits are known as what?

The characteristics that vary between dominant and recessive traits are known as alleles. Alleles are different forms of a gene that can exist for a given trait. Each trait, such as flower color in plants or eye color in humans, can have multiple alleles, where some can express dominant traits and others recessive. The dominance of one allele over another determines the observable characteristics, or phenotype, of an organism.

The choice referencing dominance pertains specifically to the relationship between alleles rather than the actual traits themselves. Understanding the distinction between alleles—different versions of a gene—and dominance is crucial in genetics. This clarity allows for the understanding of how certain traits manifest based on which alleles are inherited from the parents.