∞ generated and posted on 2016.08.28 ∞
Allele whose associated phenotype is manifest only when paired with another copy of itself or equivalent allele in diploid individuals.
A dominant allele paired with a recessive allele results in the dominant phenotype while the recessive allele paired with the, or in certain cases a recessive allele results in the recessive phenotype.
Recessive alleles often give rise to defective gene products, resulting in an absence of whatever function the dominant allele otherwise would provide. Consequently, when recessive alleles are paired with dominant alleles the dominant function is observed to at least some extent, hence that phenotype is dominant over the recessive phenotype.