allele

[ uh-leel ]

noun

, Genetics.

1. any of several forms of a gene, usually arising through mutation, that are responsible for hereditary variation.

allele

/ əˈliːl /

noun

1. any of two or more variants of a gene that have the same relative position on homologous chromosomes and are responsible for alternative characteristics, such as smooth or wrinkled seeds in peas Also calledallelomorphəˈliːləˌmɔːf See also multiple alleles

allele

/ ə-lēl′ /

1. Any of the possible forms in which a gene for a specific trait can occur. In almost all animal cells, two alleles for each gene are inherited, one from each parent. Paired alleles (one on each of two paired chromosomes) that are the same are called homozygous , and those that are different are called heterozygous . In heterozygous pairings, one allele is usually dominant, and the other recessive. Complex traits such as height and longevity are usually caused by the interactions of numerous pairs of alleles, while simple traits such as eye color may be caused by just one pair.

allele

1. The sequence of nucleotides on a DNA molecule that constitutes the form of a gene at a specific spot or a chromosome . There can be several variations of this sequence, and each of these is called an allele. In the case of the gene for eye color, for example, one allele codes for blue eyes, whereas the other may code for brown eyes.

Derived Forms

• alˈlelic, adjective
• alˈlelism, noun

Other Words From

• al·lel·ic [uh, -, lee, -lik, uh, -, lel, -ik], adjective
• al·lelism noun
• inter·al·lelic adjective
• nonal·lelic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of allele¹

First recorded in 1930–35; from German Allel, apparently as shortening of German equivalents of allelomorph or allelomorphic gene; allelo-, from Greek allēlo-, combining form of allḗlōn “of/to one another, reciprocally”

Word History and Origins

Origin of allele¹

C20: from German Allel, shortened from allelomorph, from Greek allēl- one another + morphē form

Example Sentences

If you have a variable, incestual population, not all the descendants have the same alleles, or versions of a gene.

From Nautilus

The Neanderthals and Denisovans have the same allele for that gene as we do.

From Nautilus

Our current understanding of natural selection is that it operates as a ratio, with the numerator reflecting the success of genes in projecting copies of themselves into the future and the denominator, the success of alternative alleles.

From Nautilus