allele

noun al·lele \ə-ˈlēl\

Definition of ALLELE

: any of the alternative forms of a gene that may occur at a given locus

: either of a pair of alternative Mendelian characters (as smooth and wrinkled seed in the pea)

— al·le·lic \-ˈlē-lik, -ˈle-\ adjective

— al·lel·ism \-ˈlē-ˌli-zəm, -ˈle-\ noun

See allele defined for kids

German Allel, short for Allelomorph

First Known Use: 1928

Medical Dictionary

noun al·lele \ə-ˈlē(ə)l\

: any of the alternative forms of a gene that may occur at a given locus

: either of a pair of alternative Mendelian characters (as ability versus inability to taste the chemical phenylthiocarbamide)

—al·le·lic \-ˈlē-lik, -ˈlel-ik\ adjective

—al·lel·ism \-ˈlē(ə)l-ˌiz-əm, -ˈlel-ˌiz-\ noun

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