What do we call the alternative forms of a gene?

The term used for alternative forms of a gene is alleles. Genes are segments of DNA that carry the instructions for specific traits, and alleles are different versions of the same gene that can exist at a particular locus on a chromosome. For example, a gene for flower color in a plant might have a purple allele and a white allele. These alleles can result in different characteristics appearing in the organism.

Understanding alleles is crucial in genetics because they are responsible for the variations in traits that we observe in living organisms. The relationship between alleles and traits forms the basis of inheritance patterns, such as dominant and recessive traits. This concept is foundational in genetics, explaining how traits are passed from one generation to the next and how they can exhibit variation within a population.