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 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 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 (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.

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.