Biology
Confusing an Allele with a Gene
Students call each version of a gene a separate gene instead of calling it an allele.
Quick check
Why students make it
Letters like and can look like two different genes. Students also mix up traits, genes, and alleles because all three are used when describing inheritance.
The rule done right
A gene is a stretch of DNA that affects a trait. An allele is a version of a gene, such as or for the same height gene.
Related resources
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Biology, Mendel's Laws of Inheritance Infographic -
Biology, Dihybrid Crosses Infographic -
Biology, Reading a Pedigree Infographic -
Biology, Incomplete Dominance and Codominance Infographic -
Biology, Gene Linkage and Mapping Infographic - Genetics & Mendelian Inheritance Cheat Sheet
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- Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium Reference Cheat Sheet
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- Mendelian Genetics & Punnett Square Lab Lab
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