Understanding Alleles: The Basis of Genetic Variation and Inheritance

Allele

Different Versions carries the instructions of genes for a given trait to make one protein

An allele is a variant form of a gene that occurs at a specific location on a chromosome. Genes can exist in different forms, known as alleles, that produce varying effects on the traits that they control. These alternative forms of a gene can occur as a result of mutations or changes in the DNA sequence of the gene. Alleles are responsible for individual differences in traits such as eye color, height, and blood type.

For example, a gene may have two different alleles that determine eye color, one allele for brown eyes and another for blue eyes. If an individual has two copies of the brown allele, they will have brown eyes, whereas if they have two copies of the blue allele, they will have blue eyes. If an individual has one copy of each allele, they will have brown eyes because the brown allele is dominant over the blue allele.

Mendelian genetics postulates that offspring get one allele from each parent and therefore carry two alleles for each gene (excluding genes located on sex chromosomes). This allows for the possibility of dominant-recessive relationships or more complex patterns of inheritance. Additionally, genetic mutations and the creation of new alleles can occur over time, leading to further genetic variation within populations.

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