Introduction

GENE • A gene is the basic physical and functional unit of heredity that controls a particular
trait of an organism. Genes are made up of DNA.

ALLELE • An Allele is an alternative form of a same gene, located on same locus on the
homologous chromosomes. Alleles were first defined by Gregor Mendel in the law of
segregation.

MULTIPLE ALLELES • According to Altenburg, “Three or more kinds of gene which occupy the
same locus are referred to as multiple alleles.” Multiple alleles are defined as three or more
alternative form of a same gene, located on same locus on the homologous chromosomes,
coding for certain characteristic in a population. A gene controlled by more than two alleles
and following Non-Mendelian pattern of inheritance and is described as MULTIPLE
ALLELISM.
Examples;
1. ABO blood groups
2. Rh factor in Human
3. Coat Colour in Rabbit
4. Eye color in Drosophila
ABO Blood group in man

Several genes in man produce multiple allelic series which affect an interesting and
important physiological characteristic of the human red blood cells. The red blood cells have
special antigens properties by which they respond to certain specific components
(antibodies) of the blood serum.

The antigen-antibody relationship is one of the great specificity like that between lock and
key. Each antigen and its associated antibody has a peculiear chemical configuration.
Landsteiner discovered in 1900 that when the red cells of one person are placed in the
blood serum of another person, the cells become clumped or agglutinated.

If blood transfusions were made between persons of two such incompatible blood groups,
the transfused cells were likely to clump and shut out the capillaries in the recipient,
sometimes resulting in death.

However, such reactions occurred only when the cells of certain individuals were placed in
serum from certain other persons. It was found that all persons could be classified in to four
groups with regard to the antigen property of the blood cells.
Large number of persons have been classified in to these four groups by means of the
agglutination test and the distribution of blood groups in the offspring of parents of known
blood groups has been studied. The evidence shows that these blood properties are
determined by a series of three allelic genes IA, IB and i, as follows:

IA is a gene for the production of the anti-gin A. IB for antigen B, and i for neither antigen.
The existence of these alleles in man and the case with which the blood groups can be
identified have obvious practical applications in blood transfusion, cases of disputed
percentage and description of human populations.
The alleles of these genes which affect a variety of biochemical properties of the blood, act
in such a way that in the heterozygous compound IAIB, each allele exhibits its own
characteristics and specific effect. The cells of the heterozygote contain both antigens A and
B. On the other hand, IA and IB both show complete dominance over i, which lacks both
antigens.

Table showing possible blood types of children from parents of various blood groups.

Conclusion
A population can have more than two alleles segregating at a locus, and the alleles may
have different relationships in determining phenotype. The ABO blood group system is an
example of multiple alleles. In the ABO blood group system, the alleles for A and B antigen
types are codominant and the allele for type O is recessive.
References

• Wikepedia
• Biocyclopedia/Genetics
• Slideshare /Multiple alleles- Nethravathi Siri