Allele

Definitions

One of a number of alternative forms of the same gene occupying a given position, or locus, on a chromosome.

Equivalents

Examples

“Genes are competing directly with their alleles for survival, since their alleles in the gene pool are rivals for their slot on the chromosomes of future generations. Any gene that behaves in such a way as to increase⟳ its own⟳ survival chances in the gene pool at the expense of its alleles will, by definition, tautologously, tend⟳ to survive⟳.”

“Plant⟳ breeding is always a numbers game.[…]The wild species we use⟳ are rich in genetic variation, and individual plants are highly heterozygous and do not breed⟳ true. In addition, we are looking for rare alleles, so the more plants we try⟳, the better.”

CEFR level