What’s the Difference Between a Gene and an Allele? (2024)
A gene is a unit of hereditary information. Except in some viruses, genes are made up of DNA, a complex molecule that codes genetic information for the transmission of inherited traits. Alleles are also genetic sequences, and they too code for the transmission of traits. So, what it is the difference between a gene and an allele?
The short answer is that an allele is a variant form of a gene. Explained in greater detail, each gene resides at a specific locus (location on a chromosome) in two copies, one copy of the gene inherited from each parent. The copies, however, are not necessarily the same. When the copies of a gene differ from each other, they are known as alleles. A given gene may have multiple different alleles, though only two alleles are present at the gene’s locus in any individual.
Alleles can sometimes result in different phenotypes (observable traits), with certain alleles being dominant (overriding the traits of other alleles) or, in some cases, multiple alleles acting in a codominant fashion. An example of the latter is the human ABO blood group system, in which persons with type AB blood have one allele for A and one for B (persons with neither allele are type O). An example of dominant allele expression is flower color in pea plants. A plant with purple flowers actually has a genotype (genetic makeup) consisting of a gene with a dominant P and a recessive p allele.
So, what it is the difference between a gene and an allele? The short answer is that an allele is a variant form of a gene. Explained in greater detail, each gene resides at a specific locus (location on a chromosome) in two copies, one copy of the gene inherited from each parent.
Genes are chunks of DNA that contribute to particular traits or functions by coding for proteins that influence physiology. Alleles are different versions of a gene, which vary according to the nucleotide base present at a particular genome location. An individual's combination of alleles is known as their genotype.
A gene is a segment of DNA that codes for a protein or RNA; alleles are alternate forms of a gene. A gene is a segment of DNA that codes for a protein or RNA; the term allele refers to all of the DNA in a cell or organism.
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. If the alleles are different, the individual is heterozygous.
A gene is a block of DNA code which codes for a particular characteristic - say, whether or not you have an earlobe. An allele is any variation of that gene (e.g. a having-an-earlobe allele and a not-having-an-earlobe allele). The locus is the position on each of a pair of chromosomes where that gene is located.
A locus (or loci, plural) is the actual location of the gene on a region of a chromosome. An allele is a different form of a gene at a particular locus. The designation of two alleles at a particular locus is a genotype.
DNA is the genetic material, which is involved in carrying the hereditary information, replication process, mutations, and also in the equal distribution of DNA during the cell division. Genes are the DNA stretches which encode for specific proteins.
Individuals inherit two versions of each gene, known as alleles, from each parent. In the case of a dominant trait, only one copy of the dominant allele is required to express the trait. The effect of the other allele (the recessive allele) is masked by the dominant allele.
Changes (or variations) in the gene for that characteristic cause these different forms. Each variation of a gene is called an allele (pronounced 'AL-eel'). These two copies of the gene contained in your chromosomes influence the way your cells work. The two alleles in a gene pair are inherited, one from each parent.
Our genes carry information that gets passed from one generation to the next. For example, genes are why one child has blonde hair like their mother, while their sibling has brown hair like their father. Genes also determine why some illnesses run in families and whether babies will be male or female.
DNA is responsible for building and maintaining your human structure. Genes are segments of your DNA, which give you physical characteristics that make you unique. Together, your body has a complete instruction manual that tells your cells how to behave.
Alleles are different forms of same gene. Genes are linearly arranged on chromosomes. Chromosomes contain genetic material of cell i.e. DNA. So chemically alleles, genes, chromosomes are all DNA !
Introduction: My name is Nicola Considine CPA, I am a determined, witty, powerful, brainy, open, smiling, proud person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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