Here's a breakdown:
* Gene: A segment of DNA that contains the instructions for building a specific protein or functional RNA molecule.
* Allele: A specific version of a gene. For example, the gene for eye color might have an allele for blue eyes and an allele for brown eyes.
* Genotype: The genetic makeup of an individual, including all the alleles they possess.
* Phenotype: The observable characteristics of an individual, which are influenced by their genotype and the environment.
So, each individual inherits two copies of each gene, one from each parent. These copies may be the same allele (homozygous) or different alleles (heterozygous). The alleles are the chemical versions of the gene that determine the specific instructions for building the protein or RNA molecule.
