Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
allele
noun
/əˈliːl/
Definition
An allele is a variant form of a gene that is found at a specific location on a chromosome.
Examples
- In humans, the gene for eye color has different alleles that result in blue, brown, or green eyes.
- Some diseases are influenced by alleles that can be either dominant or recessive.
Meaning
Alleles contribute to the organism’s traits and can vary between individuals, leading to diversity within a population.
Synonyms
- variant
- gene variant
- genetic variant
