allele
/əˈliːl/
noun
Origin
Ancient Greek
allēlos — each other
Overview
Meaning Now
- One of two or more alternative forms of a gene that arise by mutation and are found at the same place on a chromosome.
Literal older meaning
one another
Language path
Ancient Greek → German → English
Earliest form
allelomorph
Earliest period
1908
Journey
The term was originally introduced as 'allelomorph' by William Bateson, who derived it from the Greek 'allēlos' (each other) and 'morphē' (form). It describes how different versions of the same gene occupy the same locus on homologous chromosomes.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek
allēlos
“of one another”
- German (late 19th c.)
Allelomorph
“an alternative form of a gene”
Coined by German scientists based on Greek elements
- English (1908)
allelomorph
“variant of a gene”
Shortened to allele later
Connections
Word parts
allēl-
root
other/each other
Related across languages
Ancient Greek
allēlos
each other
Explore next
Related to allele
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.