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Chapter 5: Problem 2

Distinguish between the terms gene and allele.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: A gene is a sequence of DNA that codes for a specific protein or RNA molecule and determines a particular trait or characteristic in an organism. An allele, on the other hand, is a variant of a gene representing one of the different forms a gene can take, contributing to the variation of a trait or characteristic. Essentially, a gene determines the trait, while the alleles determine the variation of that trait within a population.

Step by step solution

01

Define Gene

A gene is a sequence of DNA that codes for a specific protein or RNA molecule. It is a unit of heredity that is passed down from parents to offspring and determines a particular trait or characteristic in an organism. For example, there may be a gene that controls eye color.
02

Define Allele

An allele is a variant of a gene, representing one of the different forms a gene can take. In other words, alleles are different versions of the same gene that produce variation in a trait or characteristic. Organisms typically inherit two alleles for each gene, one from each parent. For example, there might be a brown-eyed allele and a blue-eyed allele for the eye color gene.
03

Compare Gene and Allele

While genes are the basic units of heredity responsible for specific traits or characteristics, alleles are the different versions or forms of a gene that contribute to the variation in those traits. Essentially, a gene determines the trait, while the alleles determine the variation of that trait within a population.
04

Provide Examples

For a better understanding, let's consider the example of blood type in humans. The ABO blood group system has a gene that determines an individual's blood type. This gene has three different alleles: A, B, and O. Each person inherits two alleles (one from each parent), which determine the combination of A, B, AB, or O blood types. The gene is the ABO blood group system, while the alleles are the different forms (A, B, and O) that result in variations of the blood type trait.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

If the phenotype trait of an \(A a\) heterozygous individual is the same as that of an \(A A\) homozygous individual, which allele is recessive?

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Why are small populations more prone to variations in allele frequency from generation to generation as a result of genetic drift than are large populations?

What is natural selection? What conditions are necessary for natural selection to occur?

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