Alternative mutational forms of a gene are called alleles.

Here's a breakdown:

* Gene: A segment of DNA that codes for a specific protein or functional RNA molecule.

* Allele: A specific variant of a gene. Different alleles of a gene have slightly different DNA sequences, which can lead to variations in the protein produced or the way the gene is regulated.

* Mutation: A permanent change in the DNA sequence. Mutations can create new alleles.

Example:

* The gene for eye color has different alleles, such as the allele for brown eyes and the allele for blue eyes. These alleles are variations of the same gene, but they produce different phenotypes (eye color).

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