In incomplete dominance, what is the phenotypic outcome for heterozygotes?

Prepare for the Mississippi State Biology 1 Exam with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question offers hints and explanations to help you get ready for your exam!

In cases of incomplete dominance, the phenotype of heterozygotes is characterized by a blending of traits from both alleles. This means that when an individual inherits two different alleles for a trait, neither allele is completely dominant over the other. As a result, the phenotype expressed is an intermediate form between the two parental traits.

For example, if one parent has red flowers (dominant) and the other has white flowers (also considered a different allele), the offspring that are heterozygous might exhibit pink flowers, which is a mix of the two colors. This intermediate phenotype clearly illustrates how incomplete dominance works, as it does not show the traits distinctly but rather combines them into a new expression.

The other options do not accurately reflect the nature of incomplete dominance, where a mix is evident rather than a full expression of one dominant trait, equal expression of both, or the absence of a phenotype altogether.

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