allele
1 synonym for allele, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — One of the alternative forms a gene can take at a particular place on a chromosome.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
allelomorph
How to use allele
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
dominant allele
recessive allele
carry an allele
allele frequency
inherit an allele
Allele is a specialist term from genetics rather than everyday vocabulary.
Etymology
English borrowed allele from the German word Allel, a shortened form of German Allelomorph. That German term itself came from the English word allelomorph, which traces back to the Ancient Greek term for each other, built on the word for other.
Full origin of allele →Frequently asked questions
What is an allele in genetics?
An allele is one particular version of a gene, found at the same position on a chromosome as the gene's other possible versions.
What is the difference between a gene and an allele?
A gene is the unit that codes for a trait, while an allele is one specific variant of that gene. A single gene can have several different alleles.
Can a gene have more than one allele?
Yes, a gene can exist as several alternative alleles, and an individual usually carries two of them, one from each parent.
