Minute to Understanding: What is an allele? (2024)

What is an allele?

Alleles genetically influence many parts of our life, such as how we look, risk factors for certain diseases, and much more!

What is an allele? Well, alleles are matching genes; one from our biological mother, one from our biological father. We have two copies of every gene (strings of code that drive some biological function on our chromosomes).

They can be identical, but they can often have slight differences. Alleles, therefore, include all the variant forms of a particular gene. This combination of similarities and differences can have important effects within our body.

What makes these allele variations important? The way that two different alleles interact with each other can sometimes result in different, observable in a person. For example, a dominant allele can override the traits of other recessive alleles, and it is these properties that help decide things like a person's eye and hair color. In this case, alleles that code for brown eyes are dominant over the recessive alleles that code for blue eyes.

Alleles do much more than just decide physical traits. These complex combinations also influence our risks for developing certain diseases, how we react to medications, and even if we develop allergies to certain things. Our genetic makeup, also called our genotype, is decided by the pairs of alleles in our DNA. This elaborate genetic tapestry, including dominant and recessive alleles, are what help decide how we look and live day to day.


Minute to Understanding: What is an allele? (2024)

FAQs

What is an allele answers? ›

An allele is one of two or more versions of DNA sequence (a single base or a segment of bases) at a given genomic location. An individual inherits two alleles, one from each parent, for any given genomic location where such variation exists. If the two alleles are the same, the individual is hom*ozygous for that allele.

What is an allele apex answers? ›

One of two or more alternative forms of a gene that arise by mutation and are found at the same place on a chromosome.

What is an allele quizlet? ›

An allele is an alternative form of a gene (one member of a pair) that is located at a specific position on a specific chromosome. These DNA codings determine distinct traits that can be passed on from parents to offspring.

Which best describes an allele? ›

The choice that best describes an allele is different forms of the same gene.

What is an allele quizizz? ›

A segment of DNA that codes for a trait.

What is allele brainly? ›

Answer: The definition of alleles are pairs or series of genes on a chromosome that determine the hereditary characteristics. An example of an allele is the gene that determines hair color. Any of the alternative forms of a gene or other hom*ologous DNA sequence.

What is an allele best defined as a group of answer choices? ›

An allele is one of two or more versions of a gene. An individual inherits two alleles for each gene, one from each parent. If the two alleles are the same, the individual is hom*ozygous for that gene. If the alleles are different, the individual is heterozygous.

What does the term allele refer to ______________? ›

An allele is a variant form of a gene. Some genes have a variety of different forms, which are located at the same position, or genetic locus, on a chromosome.

What is a simple example of an allele? ›

If you have two blue eye alleles, your eyes will be blue. But if you have one allele for blue eyes and another for brown eyes, your eye color will be dictated by whichever allele is dominant. A dominant allele is one that always determines the phenotype when present.

What is an allele 9th grade definition? ›

Genes and alleles are key players in heredity. Genes are sections of DNA that code for specific proteins or functional RNA. Alleles, on the other hand, are different versions of the same gene. They can lead to variations in traits like eye color.

What is an allele apex? ›

Expert-Verified Answer

The allele is one of the possible versions of the gene. An allele codes for a specific trait and is present in the same place at the chromosome. For example, a gene has two alleles, dominant and recessive. The dominant allele is expressed, whereas the recessive alleles are masked by the dominant.

Why is it called allele? ›

The word "allele" is a short form of "allelomorph" ("other form", a word coined by British geneticists William Bateson and Edith Rebecca Saunders) in the 1900s, which was used in the early days of genetics to describe variant forms of a gene detected as different phenotypes.

How to use allele in a sentence? ›

Examples of 'allele' in a sentence
  1. Over the boom of their released laughter, he told them, "As you know, each of these cards represents an allele. ...
  2. But did this mean that natural selection could distinguish between the alleles?

What is an allele labster? ›

An allele is one of a number of alternative forms of the same gene or same genetic locus. Sometimes, different alleles can result in different observable phenotypic traits, such as different pigmentation. However, most genetic variations result in little or no observable variation.

What is an allele 6th grade definition? ›

Alleles are a pair of genes that occupy a specific location on a particular chromosome and control the same trait. Alleles may appear in pairs or in multiple forms of alleles, which affect a specific trait of the offspring.

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