AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -An allele is one of two or more versions of DNA sequence (a single base or a segment of bases) at a given genomic location. An individual inherits two alleles, one from each parent, for any given genomic location where such variation exists. If the two alleles are the same, the individual is homozygous for that allele.

Detailed explanation-2: -Every individual has two copies, or alleles, or a single gene. When the alleles are the same, they are known as homozygotes. When they are different, they are called heterozygotes.

Detailed explanation-3: -The combination of alleles that an organism carries constitutes its genotype. If the paired alleles are the same, the organism’s genotype is said to be homozygous for that trait; if they are different, the organism’s genotype is heterozygous.

Detailed explanation-4: -Well, alleles are matching genes; one from our biological mother, one from our biological father. We have two copies of every gene (strings of code that drive some biological function on our chromosomes). They can be identical, but they can often have slight differences.

Detailed explanation-5: -Humans are diploids. This means that we only have two alleles for each of our genes. This is primarily because we only get one copy of a parent’s chromosomes. Since all of us have two parents, we have two sets of chromosomes, hence two alleles for each gene.