Alleles
different forms of genes for specific traits
Alleles are different versions of the same gene that contain variations in their nucleotide sequence. Each gene has two alleles, one inherited from the mother and one from the father. Alleles are responsible for the genetic variation that exists within a population and can result in different physical traits or characteristics. For example, the gene for eye color has different alleles that can result in blue, green, brown, or other colored eyes.
Alleles can be dominant or recessive. A dominant allele masks the expression of a recessive allele when present in an individual. This means that if an individual inherits one dominant allele and one recessive allele for a particular trait, the dominant allele will be expressed. However, if an individual inherits two recessive alleles, the recessive trait will be expressed.
Alleles can also be co-dominant or incompletely dominant. In co-dominance, both alleles are expressed equally, resulting in a phenotype that is a combination of both traits. In incomplete dominance, the traits from both alleles blend together to form an intermediate phenotype. For example, in the case of flower color, a plant with one red allele and one white allele might exhibit a phenotype that is pink, which is an intermediate of the two alleles.
In summary, alleles are different versions of genes that can result in different physical characteristics and traits, and they can be dominant, recessive, co-dominant, or incompletely dominant.
More Answers:
Alleles: How Genes Determine Our Unique TraitsGenes: The fundamental unit of heredity that determines physical traits and influences disease susceptibility
Heterozygosity: The Impact of Allelic Variations on an Organism’s Phenotype