What are alternative forms of a gene known as?

• A. Genotypes
• B. Alleles
• C. Phenotypes
• D. Genomes

Answer: (B)

Alternative forms of a gene are known as alleles. Each gene resides at a specific location on a chromosome, and for many genes, there can exist multiple variations or forms, which are referred to as alleles. For example, a gene that determines flower color might have a purple allele and a white allele. These variations can produce different traits in an organism, and individuals may inherit different combinations of alleles from their parents, which can influence the observable characteristics.

The other terms provided in the options refer to different concepts in genetics. Genotypes refer to the genetic makeup of an individual, specifically the combination of alleles they possess for a particular gene. Phenotypes are the observable traits expressed by an organism as a result of the interaction between its genotype and the environment. Genomes denote the complete set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or organism.