allele
al·lele
noun \ə-ˈlēl\Definition of ALLELE
1
: any of the alternative forms of a gene that may occur at a given locus
2
: 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 Origin of ALLELE
German Allel, short for Allelomorph
First Known Use: 1928
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