How is dominant inheritance characterized?

Dominant inheritance is characterized by the requirement of only one dominant allele for the expression of a phenotype. This means that if an individual possesses at least one copy of a dominant allele, the characteristics associated with that allele will be expressed, regardless of the other allele's form (whether it is dominant or recessive).

In many genetic diseases that follow dominant inheritance patterns, affected individuals can pass the dominant allele to their offspring, leading to a potential 50% chance of the offspring expressing the same phenotype. This is why having just one dominant allele can lead to the manifestation of traits or diseases.

The characteristics of dominant inheritance are also reflected in the ability of affected individuals to appear in every generation, as one dominant allele from a parent can lead to the phenotype being passed on. This understanding is crucial for exploring family genetics and predicting the occurrence of traits across generations.