What is an allele?

An allele is defined as a variant form of a gene. Genes, which are segments of DNA, can exist in different versions, and these versions are referred to as alleles. For example, a gene that determines flower color in a plant may have several alleles: one for red flowers, one for white flowers, and so on. Each individual inherits two alleles for each gene, one from each parent, which contributes to their specific traits. The presence of different alleles can lead to variations in characteristics within a population, making alleles fundamental to the study of genetics and heredity. Understanding alleles is crucial for grasping concepts such as genetic diversity, inheritance patterns, and traits expression in living organisms.