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allele definition

al·lele (ə lēl′)

noun

either of a pair of genes located at the same position on both members of a pair of chromosomes and conveying characters that are inherited in accordance with Mendelian law

Etymology: Ger allel < Gr allēlōn, of one another

Related Forms:

  • allelic al·lel′·ic (ə lēl′ik, -lel′-) adjective
  • allelism al·lel′·ism′ (-lēl′iz′əm, -lel′-) noun

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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