allele

views updated May 21 2018

allele The common shortening of the term ‘allelomorph’. One of two or more forms of a gene arising by mutation and occupying the same relative position (locus) on homologous chromosomes. When in the same cell, alleles may undergo pairing during meiosis. They may be distinguished by their differing effects on the phenotype. The existence of two forms of a gene may be termed ‘diallelism’, and that of many forms, ‘multiple allelism’. The commonness of an allele in a population is termed the ‘allele frequency’.

allele

views updated May 17 2018

allele Common shortening of the term ‘allelomorph’. One of two or more forms of a gene that arise by mutation and occupy the same locus on homologous chromosomes. When in the same cell, alleles may undergo pairing during meiosis. They may be distinguished by their differing effects on the phenotype. The existence of two forms of a gene may be termed ‘diallelism’, and of many forms, ‘multiple allelism’. The commonness of an allele in a population is termed the ‘allele frequency’.

allele

views updated May 29 2018

allele Common shortening of the term ‘allelomorph’. One of two or more forms of a gene that arise by mutation and occupy the same locus on homologous chromosomes. When in the same cell, alleles may undergo pairing during meiosis. They may be distinguished by their differing effects on the phenotype. The existence of two forms of a gene may be termed ‘diallelism’, and of many forms, ‘multiple allelism’. The commonness of an allele in a population is termed the ‘allele frequency’.

allele

views updated May 23 2018

allele (allelomorph) One of the alternative forms of a gene. In a diploid cell there are usually two alleles of any one gene (one from each parent), which occupy the same relative position (locus) on homologous chromosomes. These alleles may be the same, or one allele may be dominant to the other (known as the recessive), i.e. it determines which aspects of a particular characteristic the organism will display. Within a population there may be numerous alleles of a gene; each has a unique nucleotide sequence.

allele

views updated Jun 11 2018

al·lele / əˈlēl/ • n. Genetics one of two or more alternative forms of a gene that arise by mutation and are found at the same place on a chromosome. Also called allelomorph.DERIVATIVES: al·lel·ic / əˈlēlik; əˈlel-/ adj.

allele

views updated May 11 2018

allele One of two or more alternative forms of a particular gene. Different alleles may give rise to different forms of the characteristic for which the gene codes. Different flower colour in peas is due to the presence of different alleles of a single gene. See also Mendel

allele

views updated May 18 2018

allele (allelomorph) (ă-leel) n. one of two or more alternative forms of a gene, only one of which can be present in a chromosome. See also dominant, recessive.
allelic adj.

allele

views updated May 08 2018

allele Common shortening of the term ‘allelomorph’. One of two or more forms of a gene arising by mutation and occupying the same relative position (locus) on homologous chromosomes.

More From encyclopedia.com