Which trait is dominant: blue eyes or brown eyes?

The trait for brown eyes is considered dominant over the trait for blue eyes. In genetics, dominant traits are expressed in the phenotype when at least one dominant allele is present. The allele for brown eyes is typically represented as "B," while the allele for blue eyes is represented as "b." Therefore, individuals with either two brown eye alleles (BB) or one brown eye and one blue eye allele (Bb) will have brown eyes. In contrast, only individuals with two blue eye alleles (bb) will display blue eyes.

This understanding of dominance is crucial when studying inheritance patterns and provides insight into how traits are passed from one generation to the next. Brown eyes are the more common trait in many populations, illustrating how dominant alleles can affect the frequency of certain traits. This principle of dominance is applicable in various contexts in genetics, reinforcing the importance of understanding allele interactions in determining physical characteristics.