Alleles and Genetic Variation Flashcards

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What is an allele?

An allele is a different version of the same gene.

How many alleles for each gene do humans usually have, and where do they come from?

We usually have two alleles for each gene, one from each parent.

What is meant by genetic variation?

Genetic variation is the differences between individuals caused by different genes and alleles.

How do different alleles cause variation in a characteristic?

Different alleles can produce different forms of a characteristic, such as eye colour.

What is a dominant allele?

A dominant allele is one that shows its effect even if only one copy is present.

What is a recessive allele?

A recessive allele only shows its effect when two copies are present.

In genetics diagrams, how are dominant and recessive alleles usually written?

Dominant alleles use a capital letter and recessive alleles use a lower-case version of the same letter.

Why does sexual reproduction lead to genetic variation?

Sexual reproduction mixes alleles from two parents, so each offspring has a unique combination.

What does it mean if two people have different combinations of alleles for the same gene?

They may show different forms of the characteristic, so they are genetically different.

How can new alleles first appear in a population?

New alleles can appear when changes in DNA, called mutations, occur.

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