Allele

Dr. Foster: ‘Alice, I noticed you looking quite satisfied with yourself just now. What have you discovered?’

Alice: ‘I remembered the exact term for different versions of the same gene! It is called an allele. It reminds me of my freckles, whether or not they are noticeable depends on the allelic makeup I received from both of my parents.’

You: ‘I see it now, so in these fruit fly crosses, the same principle applies—each observable variation can stem from different versions of a gene. But we use specific genetic terminology to describe how those versions interact and how traits become visible in each generation.’

Alice: ‘That makes sense. It’s fascinating how the same idea that explains my freckles can also help us predict eye color in flies.’

Dr. Foster: ‘Exactly. Now, which of the following terms best fits when we discuss how certain alleles manifest in an organism’s appearance?’