Alleles
Alleles
Alleles (/əˈliːlz/) are different forms of a gene that are found at the same place on a chromosome. They can be responsible for variations in genetic traits.
Etymology
The term "allele" is derived from the Greek word "ἄλλος" (allos), which means "other". It was first used in the early 20th century to describe the different versions of genes that could exist.
Definition
Alleles are different versions of the same gene. Each parent contributes one allele for every gene to their offspring. The combination of these two alleles determines the genetic trait that the offspring will express. For example, in humans, the gene for eye color has several possible alleles, such as blue, brown, and green. The combination of these alleles determines the eye color of the individual.
Types of Alleles
There are two main types of alleles: dominant and recessive. A dominant allele is one that will express itself when paired with any other allele. A recessive allele will only express itself when paired with another recessive allele.
Related Terms
- Gene: A unit of heredity that is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring.
- Genotype: The genetic constitution of an individual organism.
- Phenotype: The set of observable characteristics of an individual resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment.
- Homozygous: Having two identical alleles of a particular gene or genes.
- Heterozygous: Having two different alleles of a particular gene or genes.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Alleles
- Wikipedia's article - Alleles
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