Alleles

Alleles are different forms of the same gene. They are responsible for the diversity of characteristics in living things, ranging from physical traits like eye and hair color, to important biological functions like immunity and metabolism. The combination of alleles an individual has determines the unique characteristics of that individual. Alleles can be beneficial, harmful, or have no effect at all on an individual's overall health. The study of alleles is important to understand their effects on an individual and in the context of disease prevention and treatment. In addition, alleles are essential for the study of evolutionary biology and the diversity of species.