* They are both versions of the same gene: They occupy the same locus (position) on homologous chromosomes.

* They influence the same trait: They control the expression of a particular characteristic, such as eye color or hair color.

* They are passed down from parents to offspring: They are inherited according to the laws of Mendelian genetics.

* They can be homozygous or heterozygous: They can exist in pairs (one from each parent) or individually.

The main difference between dominant and recessive alleles is how they influence the phenotype (observable trait).

* Dominant alleles express their trait even if only one copy is present (heterozygous).

* Recessive alleles only express their trait if two copies are present (homozygous).

Think of it this way:

* Dominant allele: Like a strong voice, it gets heard even if there's only one.

* Recessive allele: Like a quiet voice, it needs another quiet voice to be heard.