Allele (Noun)
Meaning
(genetics) either of a pair (or series) of alternative forms of a gene that can occupy the same locus on a particular chromosome and that control the same character; "some alleles are dominant over others".
Classification
Nouns denoting body parts.
Examples
- An organism has two alleles for each gene, one inherited from each parent.
- A dominant allele will express its trait even if an individual has only one copy of the allele.
- Some alleles are recessive, meaning that an individual needs to have two copies of the allele to express the trait.
- In some cases, multiple alleles can occupy the same locus on a chromosome, leading to a range of different traits being expressed.
- The study of alleles helps geneticists understand how traits are inherited and expressed in populations.