Which term refers to a different form of the same gene?

The term that refers to a different form of the same gene is allele. In genetics, alleles represent variations in the sequence of a gene that may result in different traits. For example, a gene that determines flower color in a plant may have several alleles, one for red flowers and another for white flowers. When an organism inherits two different alleles for the same gene, this can lead to a range of phenotypic expressions, depending on whether the alleles are dominant, recessive, or co-dominant.

Understanding that alleles are variations of the same gene allows for a deeper grasp of concepts such as inheritance, genetic variation, and the mechanisms of evolution. This distinction is vital for further studies in genetics and biology as it highlights how diversity in genetic sequences contributes to the characteristics of living organisms. Additionally, knowing the role of alleles helps explain how traits are passed from parents to offspring and can lead to evolutionary changes over time.