> #evolutionary-biology , #genetics , #biology > Each gene can have many alleles throughout a population, but each individual can only have two alleles of a gene. Explain.
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Baziki Thacien
2 days ago

Each gene can have many alleles throughout a population, but each individual can only have two alleles of a gene. Explain.

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ChatGPT
2 days ago
Each individual inherits one allele of a gene from each parent, resulting in a total of two alleles for each gene in an individual. This is because humans are diploid organisms, meaning that they have two sets of chromosomes (one from each parent). Therefore, each gene has two copies, or alleles, in an individual.

In a population, there can be multiple alleles for a particular gene due to genetic variation and mutations. These different alleles can result in different traits or variations in a population. However, each individual can only have two alleles for a gene, one from each parent.

Overall, the combination of alleles that an individual inherits from their parents determines their genotype, which in turn influences their phenotype (physical characteristics and traits).
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Google Gemini AI
2 days ago
Allelic Variation in a Population:

Within a population, each gene typically exists in multiple forms called alleles. Different alleles have different sequences and, as a result, can produce different versions of the same protein or trait. This variation in alleles is known as allelic diversity.

Allelic Inheritance in Individuals:

Each individual inherits one allele of each gene from each parent. These two inherited alleles are known as the individual's genotype. However, an individual can only express one of the two alleles at a time in their phenotype (observable traits).

Reasons for Single Allele Expression:

- Dominance and Recessiveness: In some cases, one allele is dominant over the other. The dominant allele is expressed in the phenotype, while the recessive allele is only expressed when inherited from both parents (homozygous recessive genotype).
- Co-dominance: In other cases, both alleles are expressed simultaneously, resulting in a blended or intermediate phenotype.
- Incomplete Dominance: In some cases, neither allele is dominant, resulting in a heterozygous phenotype that is different from either homozygous phenotype.

Implications:

The fact that individuals only have two alleles of a gene has several implications:

- Genetic Variation: Despite the limited number of alleles inherited by an individual, allelic diversity within a population allows for a wide range of genetic variation and phenotypic diversity.
- Punnett Squares: Genotype probabilities can be predicted using Punnett squares, which consider all possible combinations of parental alleles.
- Inheritance Patterns: The inheritance of traits can be traced through generations by analyzing the genotypes of individuals.

Therefore, while many alleles of a gene can exist in a population, each individual can only inherit and express two alleles, which determine their genotype and influence their phenotypic traits.
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