Different versions or forms of the same gene that determine traits like eye color or blood type.
From 'allele' (shortening of 'allelomorph'), derived from Greek 'allos' (other) and 'morphe' (form). The term was coined by scientists in the early 1900s to describe Mendelian inheritance.
You inherit two alleles for most traits—one from each parent! If you get the brown-eye allele from both parents, you have brown eyes; one brown and one blue? Usually brown wins because it's 'dominant.' This is why genetics is basically like a rule-based game of traits!
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