Genes

A gene is a specific section of bases along a DNA molecule (often 1000s of bases long). See diagram. Each gene carries the instructions for making a specific protein, which in turn determines a particular trait. The actual sequence of bases making up a particular gene can vary. These variants of the gene are called alleles.

Alleles
Alleles code for the same characteristic (e.g. eye colour), but they have a slightly different order of bases causing different traits (e.g. brown eyes or blue eyes). Alleles produce variation in individuals.

EXAMPLE

Alleles
Alleles code for the same characteristic (e.g. eye colour), but they have a slightly different order of bases causing different traits (e.g. brown eyes or blue eyes). Alleles produce variation in individuals. Upper case and lower case letters are used to represent the alleles of a gene. Because chromosomes are paired, alleles occur in pairs.

EXAMPLE

Alleles
Genes for a particular characteristic are at the identical position (the locus) on the same chromosome pair for individuals of that species. New alleles result from mutation in the DNA molecule and produce new variations. E.g. allele for blue eyes might have been caused by a mutation in the allele brown eyes MORE ON MUTATIONS LATER.