Science word of the day: Allele, know its meaning, who introduced the term, and its practical applications

Every living organism inherits a unique combination of traits, from eye colour and blood type to resistance against certain diseases.

These characteristics are determined by genes, but genes themselves can exist in different forms.

These alternative versions are known as alleles.

While one allele may produce a particular trait, another may result in a different version of the same characteristic.

The interaction between alleles forms the foundation of genetics, helping explain why siblings can look different despite having the same parents and why some inherited disorders occur.