alleles

WordNet-Online
Free dictionary and thesaurus of English. Definitions, synonyms, antonyms and more...
Hint: double-click any word to get it searched!

Definitions from WordNet

Noun allele has 1 sense

allele, allelomorph - one of two alternate forms of a gene that can have the same locus on homologous chromosomes and are responsible for alternative traits; "some alleles are dominant over others"
--₁ is a kind of gene, cistron, factor

Definitions from the Web

Term: Alleles

Definition: Alleles are alternative forms of a gene that occupy the same location on a specific chromosome. They are responsible for producing variations in inherited traits among individuals of the same species.

Sample sentences:

The gene for eye color has two alleles, one for blue eyes and another for brown eyes.
If both parents have the recessive allele for a specific genetic disorder, their children have a higher chance of inheriting the disorder.
In a population, there can be multiple alleles for a particular characteristic, resulting in a diverse range of phenotypes.