Genetic Loci
Genes, loci and alleles
- The DNA contained within chromosomes is essential for cell survival
- Every chromosome consists of a long DNA molecule that codes for several different proteins
- A length of DNA that codes for a single polypeptide or protein is called a gene
- The position of a gene on a chromosome is its locus (plural: loci)
- Each gene can exist in two or more different forms called alleles
- Different alleles of a gene have slightly different nucleotide sequences but they still occupy the same position (locus) on the chromosome
Five different genes found at five different loci
