In genetics, what is a homozygous genotype?

A homozygous genotype consists of two identical alleles for a particular trait. This means that an individual has inherited the same allele variant from both parents, whether those alleles are dominant or recessive. For instance, if a person inherits two dominant alleles (e.g., AA) or two recessive alleles (e.g., aa) for a specific gene, they are considered homozygous for that gene. This uniformity in alleles can influence the expressed characteristics or traits, as an individual with a homozygous genotype will consistently produce the same phenotype for that trait. This understanding is fundamental in genetics, as it forms the basis for predicting inheritance patterns and phenotypic outcomes in offspring.