What term describes a situation where both parental phenotypes are expressed in the offspring?

• A. Codominance
• B. Incomplete Dominance
• C. Autosomal
• D. Sex-linked trait

Answer: (A)

Codominance describes a situation where two different alleles are both expressed in the phenotype of a heterozygote, so you see both traits rather than a blend. A classic example is the ABO blood group: someone with one A and one B allele has blood that displays both A and B antigens on the surface of red blood cells, showing both parental traits clearly.

If the pattern were incomplete dominance, the heterozygote would show an intermediate phenotype—like a mix such as pink flowers from red and white parents—rather than both traits appearing. The terms autosomal and sex-linked refer to where the gene is located and how the trait is inherited, not to the simultaneous expression of two parental traits.