Which type of gene is expressed in the offspring whenever it is present?

A dominant gene is characterized by its ability to be expressed in the offspring whenever it is present, regardless of whether it is inherited from one or both parents. When an offspring inherits at least one copy of a dominant allele, the traits associated with that allele will manifest in the phenotype of the individual. This is in contrast to recessive genes, which require two copies (one from each parent) to be expressed.

In the context of genetic inheritance, dominant genes can overshadow the effects of their recessive counterparts. For instance, if an individual possesses one dominant allele for a certain trait and one recessive allele, only the dominant trait will be observed. Dominant genes play a crucial role in determining many characteristics, which is why their presence translates directly to visible traits in the offspring.