In genetics, what does being "heterozygous" imply for an individual?

Being "heterozygous" refers to an individual having two different alleles for a specific gene. In genetic terms, alleles are variations of a gene that can result in different traits. When an individual is heterozygous, one allele may be dominant, while the other is recessive, which can influence the phenotype (the expressed traits) of the individual. This variation allows for greater genetic diversity and can impact how traits are inherited and expressed, particularly if the alleles demonstrate incomplete dominance or codominance.

In contrast, having two similar dominant alleles corresponds to being "homozygous dominant," while carrying only recessive traits would indicate being "homozygous recessive." The idea of being incapable of reproduction does not relate to allelic variation at all, as heterozygosity has no inherent effect on an individual's reproductive capabilities. Thus, the definition of heterozygous as possessing two different alleles is fundamental for understanding genetic variation and inheritance patterns.