What is Allele _ It’s Meaning and Definition One member of a pair (or any of the series).
What is Allele _ It’s Meaning and Definition One member of a pair (or any of the series).
Contents [hide]
- 1 What is an Allele? – Meaning and Definition
- 2 Allele Definition:
- 3 Example of Alleles:
- 4 Types of Alleles:
- 5 Homozygous vs. Heterozygous:
- 6 Importance of Alleles:
- 7 What is Allele _ It’s Meaning and Definition One member of a pair (or any of the series).
- 8 allele-and-its-dominance.pdf
- 9 Basic Genetic Concepts & Terms
What is an Allele? – Meaning and Definition
Allele Definition:
An allele is one of the different forms of a gene that can exist at a specific spot (locus) on a chromosome. Alleles influence the traits of an organism, such as eye color, hair color, and blood type.
Example of Alleles:
- For the eye color gene, there may be an allele for brown eyes (dominant) and an allele for blue eyes (recessive).
- In the case of blood type, the ABO gene has three alleles: A, B, and O.
Types of Alleles:
- Dominant Allele: Expressed in the organism even if only one copy is present. Represented by a capital letter (e.g., A).
- Recessive Allele: Expressed only when two copies are present. Represented by a lowercase letter (e.g., a).
- Codominant Alleles: Both alleles are equally expressed. Example: Blood type AB.
- Multiple Alleles: More than two possible alleles for a gene exist. Example: ABO blood group.
Homozygous vs. Heterozygous:
- Homozygous: When both alleles for a gene are the same (AA or aa).
- Heterozygous: When the two alleles for a gene are different (Aa).
Importance of Alleles:
Alleles are essential for genetic variation, influencing traits and evolution. They determine inherited characteristics and contribute to an organism’s adaptability to its environment.
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