A term used in genetics to describe one of the ways in which a gene is passed from parent to offspring. Many characteristics are determined by a single pair of genes, 1 of each pair being inherited from each parent. A dominant gene overrides an equivalent recessive gene. For example, the gene for brown eye colour is dominant, so if a child inherits the gene for brown eyes from 1 parent and the gene for blue eyes from the other, he or she will have brown eyes. Some genetic disorders are determined by a dominant gene. Examples include Marfan’s syndrome and Huntington’s disease. The child will have the disease if he or she inherits the gene from 1 or both parents.
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