What are genes and alleles, and how do they relate to inheritance?

Genes are units of heredity that determine traits, while alleles are different forms of a gene.

Inheritance is the process by which genetic information is passed down from parents to offspring. Genes are the basic units of heredity that determine an individual's traits, such as eye colour or height. Each gene is made up of a sequence of DNA that codes for a specific protein. However, there can be different versions of a gene, called alleles, which can result in variations in the trait that the gene controls.

For example, the gene for eye colour has several different alleles, such as brown, blue, and green. If an individual inherits two copies of the same allele, they will have that eye colour. However, if they inherit two different alleles, one from each parent, then the dominant allele will determine their eye colour.

The inheritance of alleles follows the principles of Mendelian genetics, which state that each parent contributes one allele to their offspring. This means that offspring can inherit two copies of the same allele, or one copy of each allele from their parents. The combination of alleles that an individual inherits determines their genotype, or genetic makeup, which in turn influences their phenotype, or observable traits.

Overall, genes and alleles are fundamental to the process of inheritance, as they determine an individual's genetic makeup and the traits that they inherit from their parents. Understanding the principles of genetics is essential for understanding how traits are passed down through generations and how genetic disorders can arise.