Top 10 Commonly Confused Words in Neurogenetics

Top 10 Commonly Confused Words in Neurogenetics 1. Gene vs. Allele One of the first concepts that can be confusing is the difference between a gene and an allele. A gene is a specific segment of DNA that contains the instructions for making a particular protein. On the other hand, an allele is a variant form of a gene. For example, the gene for eye color has different alleles, such as blue, brown, or green. 2. Genotype vs. Phenotype Next up, we have genotype and phenotype. Genotype refers to the genetic makeup of an individual, the specific combination of alleles they possess. Phenotype, on the other hand, is the observable characteristics of an individual, which can be influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. For example, while someone may have the genotype for tallness, their phenotype may be influenced by factors like nutrition and exercise. 3. Homozygous vs. Heterozygous Moving on, let's discuss homozygous and heterozygous. Homozygous refers to having two identical alleles for a particular gene, while heterozygous means having two different alleles. This distinction is crucial when studying inheritance patterns. In some cases, a homozygous individual may express a trait more strongly than a heterozygous individual.