Multiple Alleles: Meaning, Characteristics and Examples | Genes

Meaning of Multiple Alleles:

The word allele is a general term to denote the alternative forms of a gene or contrasting gene
pair that denote the alternative form of a gene is called allele. These alleles were previously
considered by Bateson as hypothetical partner in Mendelian segregation.

In Mendelian inheritance a given locus of chromosome was occupied by 2 kinds of genes, i.e., a
normal gene (for round seed shape) and other its mutant recessive gene (wrinkled seed shape).
But it may be possible that normal gene may show still many mutations in pea besides the one
for wrinkledness. Here the locus will be occupied by normal allele and its two or more mutant
genes.

Thus, three or more kinds of genes occupying the same locus in individual chromosome are
referred to as multiple alleles. In short many alleles of a single gene are called multiple alleles.
The concept of multiple alleles is described under the term “multiple allelism”.

Dawson and Whitehouse in England proposed the term panallele for all the gene mutations at a
given locus in a chromosome. These differ from the multiple factor in one respect that multiple
factors occupy different loci while alleles occupy same locus.

“Three or more kinds of gene which occupy the same locus are referred to as
multiple alleles.” Altenburg
Characteristics of Multiple Alleles:
1. The study of multiple alleles may be done in population.
2. Multiple alleles are situated on homologous chromosomes at the same locus.

3. There is no crossing over between the members of multiple alleles. Crossing over takes place
between two different genes only (inter-generic recombination) and does not occur within a
gene (intragenic recombination).

4. Multiple alleles influence one or the same character only.

5. Multiple alleles never show complementation with each other. By complementation test the
allelic and non-allelic genes may be differentiated well. The production of wild type phenotype
in a trans-heterozygote for 2 mutant alleles is known as complementation test.

6. The wild type (normal) allele is nearly always dominant while the other mutant alleles in the
series may show dominance or there may be an intermediate phenotypic effect.

7. When any two of the multiple alleles are crossed, the phenotype is of a mutant type and not
the wild type.

8. Further, F2 generations from such crosses show typical monohybrid ratio for the concerned
character.
Examples of Multiple Alleles:
1. Wings of Drosophila:
In Drosophila wings are normally long. There occurred two mutations at the same locus in
different flies, one causing vestigial (reduced) wings and other mutation causing antlered (less
developed) wings. Both vestigial and antlered are alleles of the same normal gene and also of
each other and are recessive to the normal gene.

Suppose vestigial is represented by the symbol ‘vg’ and antlered wing by ‘vg a‘. The normal allele
is represented by the symbol +.
Thus, there are three races of Drosophila:
(i) Long ++ (+/+)

(ii) Vestigial vg vg (vg/vg)

(iii) Antlered vga vga (vga/vga)

A cross between a long winged normal fly and another having vestigial wings or
antlered wings is represented below:

When a fly with vestigial wing is crossed with another fly having antlered wings, the F 1 hybrids
are intermediate in wing length

showing that none of the mutated gene is dominant over the other. This hybrid is some times
said as the vestigial antlered compound and contains two mutated genes at the same locus. They
show Mendelian segregation and recombination.

Besides the vestigial and antlered wing described above there are several other mutations
occurring at the same locus and resulting in nicked wings, strap wings or no wings etc. These are
all multiple alleles.

Close Linkage Versus Allelism:

If we assume that these mutant genes, vestigial and antlered are not allelic located at different
loci in place of locating at same locus in different chromosomes so closely linked that there is no
crossing over between them, the mutant gene will suppress the expression of adjacent normal
allele to certain extent.
These closely linked genes are called pseudo alleles and this suppression is the result of position
effect. Thus, visible or apparent cases of allelism may be explained on the assumption of close
linkage.

Another example of multiple alleles is the eye colour in Drosophila. The normal colour of the eye
is red. Mutation changed this red eye colour to white. Other mutations at white locus took place
changing the red eye colour to various lighter shades like cherry, apricot, eosin, creamy, ivory,
blood etc., are also visible and are due to multiple alleles.

A cross between the two mutant forms, produces intermediate type in the F 1 except white and
apricot races which are not alleles but closely linked genes.
2. Coat Colour in Rabbit:
The colour of the skin in rabbits is influenced by a series of multiple alleles. The normal colour
of the skin is brown. Besides it there are white races called albino and Himalayan as the mutant
races. The Himalayan is similar to albino but has darker nose, ear, feet and tail. The mutant
genes albino (a) and Himalayan (ah) occupy the 
same locus and are allelic. Both albino and Himalayan are recessive to their normal allele (+).

A cross between an albino and Himalayan produces a Himalayan in the F 1 and not intermediate
as is usual in the case of other multiple alleles.

3. Self-Sterility in Plants:
Kolreuter (1764) described self- sterility in tobacco (Nicotianalongiflora). The reason was done
by East. He described that self-sterility is due to series of alleles designated as s 1, s2, s3 and s4 etc.
The hybrids S1/S2 or S1/S3 or S3/S4 are self-sterile because pollen grains from these varieties did
not develop, but pollens of S1/S2 were effective and capable of fertilization with S3/S4.

The genes causing self-sterility in plants probably produce their effects by controlling the growth
rate of the pollen tubes. In compatible combinations, the pollen tube grows more and more
rapidly as it approaches the ovule, but in non-suitable ones, the growth of the pollen tube slows
down considerably, so that the flower withers away before fertilization can take place.
4. Blood Groups in Man:
Several genes in man produce multiple allelic series which affect an interesting and important
physiological characteristic of the human red blood cells. The red blood cells have special
antigens properties by which they respond to certain specific components (antibodies) of the
blood serum.

The antigen-antibody relationship is one of the great specificity like that between lock and key.
Each antigen and its associated antibody has a peculiear chemical configuration. Landsteiner
discovered in 1900 that when the red cells of one person are placed in the blood serum of
another person, the cells become clumped or agglutinated.

If blood transfusions were made between persons of two such incompatible blood groups, the
transfused cells were likely to clump and shut out the capillaries in the recipient, some times
resulting in death.

However, such reactions occurred only when the cells of certain individuals were placed in
serum from certain other persons. It was found that all persons could be classified in to four
groups with regard to the antigen property of the blood cells.

Large number of persons have been classified in to these four groups by means of the
agglutination test and the distribution of blood

groups in the offspring of parents of known blood groups has been studied. The evidence shows
that these blood properties are determined by a series of three allelic genes I A, IB and i, as
follows:

IA is a gene for the production of the anti-gin A. IB for antigen B, and i for neither antigen. The
existence of these alleles in man and the case with which the blood groups can be identified have
obvious practical applications in blood transfusion, cases of disputed percentage and description
of human populations.
The alleles of these genes which affect a variety of biochemical properties of the blood, act in
such a way that in the heterozygous
compound IAIB, each allele exhibits its own characteristics and specific effect. The cells of the
heterozygote contain both antigens A and B. On the other hand, I A and IB both show complete
dominance over i, which lacks both antigens.

Table showing possible blood types of children from parents of various blood groups.

5. The ‘Rhesus’ Blood Group in Man:

A very interesting series of alleles affecting the antigens of human blood has been discovered
through the work of Landsteiner, Wiener, Race, Levine, Sanger, Mourant & several others.

The original discovery was that the red cells are agglutinated by a serum prepared by
immunizing rabbits against the blood of Rhesus monkey. The antigen responsible for this
reaction was consequently called as Rhesus factor and the gene that causes this property was
denoted as R-r or Rh-rh.

Interest in this factor was stimulated by Levine’s study of a characteristic form of anaemia,
known as Erythroblastosis foetalis, which occurs occasionally in new born infants.

It was found that the infants suffering from this anaemia are usually Rh-positive and so are their
fathers; but their mothers are Rh-negative. The origin of the disease was explained as follows:
The Rh+ foetus developing in the uterus of an Rh – mother causes the formation of mother’s
blood stream of anti Rh antibodies.
These antibodies, especially as a result of a succession of several Rh + pregnancies, gain sufficient
strength in the mother’s blood so that they may attack the red blood cells of the foetus. The
reaction between these antibodies of the mother and the red cells of her unborn child provokes
haemolysis and anaemia; this may be serious enough to cause the death of the newborn infant
or abortion of the foetus.
The blood stream of a mother who has had an erythroblastotic infant is a much more potent and
convenient reagent than sera of rabbits, immunized by blood of rhesus monkey’s for testing the
blood of other persons to distinguish Rh+ from Rh– individuals using such sera from woman who
had erythroblastotic infants, it was discovered that: there exist not one but several kinds of
Rh+ and Rh- persons. There are several different Rh antigens which are detected by specific
antisera.

Thus, an Rh– woman immunized during pregnancy by the Rh + children may have in her blood
serum antibodies, that agglutinate not only Rh+ red cells but also cells from a few persons
known to be Rh–.
By selective absorption two kinds of antibodies may be separated from such a serum, one known
as anti-D which agglutinates (= coagulates) only Rh + cells, the other known as anti-C which
agglutinates particular rare types of Rh–. Another specific antibody, known as anti-c agglutinates
all cells that lack C.
With these three antisera, six types of blood can be recognized. Studies of parent and children
show that persons of type Cc are heterozygous for an allele C determining C anti-gena. CC
persons are homozygous for C and cc are homozygous for c. There is obviously no dominance,
each allele producing its own antigen in the heterozygote as in the AB blood type.

No anti serum is available for detecting d, the alternative to D. D + persons may be heterozygous
or homozygous. However, the genotypes of such persons may be diagnosis from their progeny;
for example D+ person who has a d– child is thereby shown to be Dd.
Two other specific antibodies, anti-E and anti-c have been found. These detect the antigens E
and e determined by a pair of alleles E and e. The three elementary types of antigens C-c, D and
E-e, occur in fixed combinations that are always inherited together as alleles of a single gene.
Wiener and Fisher showed the existence of a series of eight different alternative arrangements of
these three types of Rh antigens and expressed them by means of following symbols.

The Rh System of Alleles:

Thus, allelism is determined by cross-breeding experiments. If one

gene behaves as dominant to another the conclusion is that they are
alleles and that they occupy identical loci in homologous
chromosomes when two genes behave as dominant to other gene.
They should occupy identical loci in the chromosome. When more
than a pair of alleles occur in respect of any character in inheritance
the phenomenon is known as multiple allelism.

There is not much difference between the two theories of Wiener and
Fisher. Wiener opinion is that there are multiple variations of one
gene whereas according to the view of Fisher three different genes
lying very close together are responsible for differences.

Pleiotropism:
The opposite of polygene effect is known as pleiotropism i.e., a single
gene influence or govern many characters. 

For example, gene for vestigial wing influence the nature of halters
(modified balancers of Drosophila). The halters are not normal but
reduced in flies with vestigial wings. The vestigial gene also affects
position of dorsal bristles which instead of being horizontal turn out to
be vertical.

This gene also affects the shape of spermatheca i.e., the shape of
spermatheca is changed ; the number of egg strings in the ovaries is
decreased compared to normal when the vestigial larvae are well fed
but relatively increased when they are poorly fed ; length of life and
fruitfulness or fertility are lowered, and there are still other
differences.

Theories of Allelism:
Various theories have been put forward to explain the nature of
allelism origin and occurrence.

1. Theory of Point Mutation:

According to this theory multiple alleles have developed as a result of
mutations occurring at same locus but in different directions. Hence
all the different wing lengths of Drosophila are necessarily the result of
mutations which have occurred at same long normal wing locus in
different directions.

2. Theory of Close Linkage or Positional Pseudoallelism:

According to this view the multiple alleles are not the gene mutations
at same locus but they occupy different loci closely situated in the
chromosome. These genes closely linked at different loci are said to as
pseudo alleles and affect the expression of their normal genes i.e.,
position effect.

3. Heterochromatin Theory of Allelism:

Occasionally heterochromatin becomes associated with the genes as a
result of chromosomal breakage and rearrangement. These
heterochromatin particles suppress the nature of genes in question
due to position effect.

In maize the position effect are some times due to transposition (act of
changing place or order) of very minute particles of heterochromatin.
There are also sign or token that particles of different kinds of
heterochromatin suppress the expression of normal gene to different
degrees.

In Drosophila the apricot might be a partially suppressed red (normal)

and white completely suppressed red while apricot and white hybrid
may give rise to red or intermediate by unequal crossing over. The
above theories in some way or other do not explain clearly the
particular case of allelism and it is possible that all the three theories
are applicable in different cases.

Importance of Multiple Allelism:

The study of multiple alleles has increased our knowledge of heredity.
According to T.H. Morgan a great knowledge of the nature of gene has
come from multiple alleles. These alleles suggest that a gene can
mutate in different ways causing different effects. Multiple allelism
also put forward the idea that different amounts of heterochromatin
prevent the genes to different degree or space.

1. Pseudo alleles:
Alleles are different forms of the same gene located at the
corresponding loci or the same locus. Sometimes it has been found
that non-homologous genes which are situated at near but different
loci affect the same character in the same manner as if they are
different forms or alleles of the same gene. They are said as pseudo
alleles. These pseudo alleles which are closely linked show re-
combinations by crossing over unlike the alleles.

2. Penetrance and Expressivity:

Simply a recessive gene produces its phenotypic effect in homozygous
condition and a dominant gene produces its phenotypic effect whether
in homozygous or heterozygous condition. Some genes fail to produce
their phenotypic effect when they should. The ability of a gene to
produce its effect is called penetrance.

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The percentage of penetrance may be altered by changing the

environmental conditions such as moisture, light intensity,
temperature etc. A gene that always produces the expected effect is
said to have 100 percent penetrance. If its phenotypic effect is
produced only 60 percent of the individuals that contains it then it is
said to show 60 percent penetrance.

In Gossypium a mutant gene produces crinkled leaf. While all the

leaves produced in the normal season are crinkled but some of the
leaves which are produced late in the season do not show this
character and are normal. It represents that penetrance is zero or in
other words the gene is non-penetrant. Sometimes there is great
variation in the manner in which a character is expressed in different
plants.

In Lima beans there is a variety named venturra where a dominant

gene is responsible for tips and margins of the leaves of the seedlings
to be partially deficient in chlorophyll. Sometimes only the margins
are effected and sometimes only the tips. In other words, this single
gene may express itself in a variety of ways that may resemble a
number of characters. This gene is then to exhibit variable
expressivity.
Whether a gene is expressed at all is denoted by the term penetrance
whereas the term expressivity denotes the degree of its expression.

3. Lsoalleles:
Sometimes, a dominant gene occurs in two or more forms. These
multiple dominant alleles will produce the same phenotypic effect in
homozygous condition but their effect will show a small difference in
heterozygous state.

In Drosophila, thus, the gene for red eye colour is dominant over
white. The red gene will produce dark red colour in the homozygous
condition but in combination with the white allele the gene for red
colour produces a dark red colour in flies from Soviet Russia but the
same combination in the flies coming from the U.S.A. produces a light
red colour. It does mean that dominant gene for red colour occurs in
two forms. These are said as isoalleles.

4. Phenocopy:
Characters are the result of interaction between the genotype and the
environment. When a gene mutates, its phenotypic effect also changes.
Some times, a change in the environment produces a visible change in
the phenotype of the normal gene which resembles the effect as
already known mutant.

The effect of the normal gene under the changed environment is a

mimic or imitation of the mutant gene. Such an imitation induced by
environmental changes has been termed as phenocopy by
Goldschmidt.

In fowls, a mutant gene is responsible for the character, ruinplessness,

in which the caudal vertebrate and tail feathers do not develop.
Rumplessness is also induced as a phenocopy when normal eggs which
do not have the gene for rumplessness, are treated with insulin before
incubation.

Phenocopies of other mutant genes are also produced in Drosophila by

high temperature treatment of the larvae for short periods. It has also
been found that different or non- allelic genes can produce the same
phenotype. This phenomenon is said as genetic mimic or genocopy.

5. Xenia and Metaxenia:

The immediate effect of foreign pollen on visible characters of the
endosperm is called xenia. The ‘xenia’ term was given by Focke (1800).
This has been studied in maize plant. If a white endosperm variety is
open pollinated in the field where there are also plants of the yellow
endosperm variety then the cobs that develop will contain a mixture of
yellow and white seeds.

The yellow colour of the endosperm in the yellow seeds is the result of
fertilization by pollen from the yellow variety. The yellow colour
indicates that the seeds are hybrids and the white seeds are
homozygous.

The yellow colour of the endosperm is dominant over white and when
the plants raised from the yellow seeds are self-pollinated, yellow and
white seeds are produced in the ratio of 3:1. Another example of xenia
may be exemplified. If a sweet corn (maize) is pollinated by a starchy
variety, the endosperm is starchy because the starchy gene introduced
by the pollen is dominant over its sugary allele.

6. Metaxenia:
It is the term used to describe the effect of foreign pollen on other
tissues belonging to the mother plant, outside the endosperm and
embryo. It is sometimes evident in the fruit and seed coats.

In cucurbitaceous fruits, the skin colour is affected by the pollen

grains; in oranges, the colour and flavour of the fruit is influenced by
the pollen parent. The same is true of fuzziness and hair length in
cotton. It has been suggested that metaxenia effects may be due to
certain hormones secreted by the endosperm and embryo.

Multiple Alleles: Meaning, Characteristics and Examples | Genes

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What is Multiple Alleles?
Alleles are genetic pairs that share a locus, which is a specific place on a
chromosome. A gene in a diploid organism usually contains just two alleles.
Multiple allelism is a condition in which a gene exists in more than two allelic
variants. Allelism is the term used to describe any of a gene’s numerous
variations. Hereditary variations are caused by these genetic differences,
which are generally caused by mutation.
Each gene, according to Gregor Mendel, should contain just two alleles.
Alleles are gene variants that come in two or more forms. Each gene is
passed down in two forms, one from each parent. As a result, having two
distinct alleles for a characteristic is also a possibility.
Heterozygous offspring have genotypes made up of various alleles of a gene,
whereas homozygous offspring have genotypes made up of the same alleles
(i.e., of a gene for a certain characteristic). Multiple allele characteristics may
occur at the population level, despite the fact that humans (and other diploid
creatures) can only have two alleles for any particular gene in genetics. As a
result, many alleles play an essential role in fostering diversity within a
species.
A particular chromosomal locus was inhabited by two unique sorts of gene
alternatives in Mendelian inheritance-one dominant and one recessive. Both
of these options are alleles of the same gene. However, there are times when
there are more than two options (alleles) available to a population. When
different versions of the same gene exist in the population, this is referred to
as “multiple allelism.” Multiple alleles refer to three or more variations of the
same gene.

Multiple Alleles Definition

A gene with three or more alleles. Multiple allelism is a biological term that
refers to the existence of multiple alleles. The ABO blood group system in
humans is one example. IA, IB, and IO are the three allelic variants of human
gene I (I stands for “isohaemagglutinin”). On the cell surface of RBCs, IA and
IB generate type A and type B antigens, respectively, but IO (or I) is a
recessive allele that does not produce antigens. A child with both IA and IB
genes, for example, will have blood type AB, while those with IOIO (or ii) will
have blood type O.
Multiple Alleles Examples
Let’s look at some examples of many alleles to help us comprehend the
notion better.

i. Cat Coat Color

Domestic cats have been bred for thousands of years to produce a wide
range of coat colours. The gene that determines the cat’s coat colour appears
to have several variations, since coat colours range from black to orange to
brown to white. This indicates that the coat colour is determined by many
alleles.

In the population, the coat colour gene has several alleles, and the pigment-
producing protein will be determined by the inheritance and expression of
these alleles. Curliness, shading, patterning, and even texture is all controlled
by the same genes. Because of the numerous potential genotype
combinations and expressions resulting from these genes, a broad range of
breeds exist. Even when two parents share just four alleles for each gene, the
variety may be amazing.
Cats’ coat colour phenotype — patches of black and orange (tortoiseshell
pattern), black, grey, white, and patches of white hair — strongly shows
multiple allelism, since there appear to be more than two alleles for the coat
colour phenotype (piebald spotting).
The genotype of a cat may usually be detected by looking at its coat colouring
and pattern. It is typically feasible to estimate the colouring possibilities of
kittens if the phenotypes of the parents are known, but the computations
would be difficult in most situations.

ii. Multiple Alleles in Fruit Flies

The genomic mapping of the common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, was
finished in 2000. Because of its rapid reproductive rate and the simplicity of
keeping and analysing large numbers of flies, the fruit fly has been and
continues to be a valuable laboratory animal. The DNA of a fruit fly is far
smaller than that of a human, with just 165 million base pairs.
Fruit flies have just four chromosomes, whereas humans have 23. Despite
this, just four chromosomes contain about 17,000 genes. Each gene controls
a different element of the fly’s appearance and is susceptible to mutation and
the development of new alleles.

Drosophila melanogaster’s wings are normally fairly long. Two mutations at

the same gene happened in different flies, one of which resulted in vestigial
(reduced) wings and the other in antlered (less developed) wings.
When a fly with vestigial wings crosses with one with antlered wings, the F1
hybrids have intermediate wing lengths, suggesting that none of the mutant
genes is dominant. This hybrid, also known as the vestigial antlered
compound, is made up of two mutant genes at the same locus. There is
evidence of Mendelian segregation and recombination.
Other phenotypes include nicked wings, strapped wings, and no wings at all,
in addition to vestigial and antlered wings. Multiple alleles in this fruit fly
population are the gene variations responsible for various characteristics.

iii. Multiple Alleles in Humans

Humans and other organisms have traits with three or more different types of
alleles (genes). Multiple allele inheritance refers to the inheritance of three or
more different alleles in a characteristic. The ABO blood type alleles/trait in
humans is an example of a multiple allele trait. There are three types of
alleles: allele A (IA), allele B (IB), and allele i. (IO or i).

Protein A is generated when the allele A is present on the chromosome, and

protein A is found on the membranes of the individual’s red blood cells.
Protein B will be generated if allele B is present on the chromosome, and
protein B will be found in the membranes of red blood cells. Finally, neither
protein A nor protein B will be produced if allele I is present on the
chromosome. The ABO blood group characteristic is made up of these three
alleles.
Allele A and allele B have a codominant inheritance pattern (co-dominance).
When neither allele is dominant over the other and a heterozygous individual
displays both traits, this is known as co-dominance.
For example, if an individual has allele A on one homologous chromosome
and allele B on the other, both proteins are expressed, and red blood cells
have both proteins A and B on their cell membranes.
In humans, the ABO blood type genetic system is an example of many alleles
blood type. Blood group A, blood group B, blood group AB, and blood group O
are the four types of phenotypes. In this example, there are three alleles in the
population. When the IA allele is expressed, A molecules are present on red
blood cells; when the IB allele is expressed, B molecules are present on red
blood cells; and when the IO allele is expressed, no such antigens are present
on red blood cells. Not only are the IA and IB alleles codominant, but they are
also dominant over the IO allele. Because the IO allele is recessive, it will be
expressed even if IA or IB are not present.
Despite the fact that a population has three alleles, each person gets only two
of them from their parents. The genotypes and phenotypes shown below are
the consequence of this. Consider that there are six genotypes when three
alleles are present. The dominance relationships between the three alleles
dictate the number of phenotypes that can be produced.

iv. Multiple Alleles in Plants

While it is commonly assumed that the form of a potato tuber is constant,
visual traits such as round or long tubers can be distinguished at the diploid
level. Although this is the first report of experimental evidence for the
occurrence of several allele systems in a potato tuber, this study may be
compared to one in maize. The tuber shape recessive allele can be
considered a qualitatively acknowledged null or near-null allele.
The difference between dominant alleles is quantifiable. The concept of a null
or near-null allele for the (most) recessive allele is compatible with how
quantitative effects at a multiallelic locus are characterised. When extra metric
characteristics are resolved into Mendelian factors in experimental designs
utilising heterozygous parents, inferences regarding the relative significance
of various allele traits to numerous loci in explaining quantitative genetic allele
variance can be reached.

v. Multiple Alleles in Bacteria

Bacteria carry a combination of genes, and some of them have many alleles.
These wild-type alleles are typically linked to different forms of pathogenicity
and can be used to categorise subspecies (e.g., housekeeping genes for Multi
Locus Sequence Typing, MLST). As a result, identifying not just the target
gene but also the appropriate allele is important.
Sequencing-based techniques now available are confined to mapping reads
to each known allele reference, which is a time-consuming procedure. More
than knowing the species responsible for the infection, it is required to
understand and forecast the pathogenic impact and epidemic potential of a
bacterial infection.
Bacterial virulence is typically controlled at the sub-species level by a set of
genes or even alleles, necessitating the adoption of different treatment
methods for infections caused by the same bacterial species.
Minor changes in a gene, for example, might result in a varied array of
antibiotic resistance profiles within a single taxonomic group.
Varied alleles of the same gene may be responsible for different adhesion and
invasion tactics, immunological responses to the infected organism, and toxin
synthesis, among other things.
Identifying alleles of certain genes leads to a more exact categorization of
bacteria, in addition to its relevance in understanding pathogenicity.

Multiple Allelism, Pleiotropy and Epistasis

Pleiotropy and epistasis are two additional popular concepts in genetics that
might be confused with multiple allelism. Differences between multiple allelism
(defined as the presence of many alleles) and other genetic disorders.

Pleiotropy
Pleiotropy is a situation in which more than one gene can affect the phenotype
in numerous ways. Pleiotropy entails more than one gene that influences
phenotype,
Whereas multiple allelism simply comprises a single gene with numerous
variations (referred to as many alleles).
Albino people, for example, are more likely than pigmented ones to have
crossed eyes. Albinos may also have a cross-eyed characteristic, in addition
to having insufficient colour production in their skin and hair. However, not all
albinos have this feature, showing that the two qualities are not connected in
these situations. (BioL110F2012 – Confluence, 2012).
The Complex Expression Patterns of Multiple Alleles Another example is the
colour of one’s eyes. More than one gene influences the characteristic. OCA2
and HERC2 are two of these genes.
Epistasis
When one gene influences the expression of another, this is known as
epistasis. When genes cooperate to generate a certain characteristic, this
happens.
One example is the determination of coat colour in some species (such as
horses), where the effect of one gene is influenced by the influence of another
gene that controls hair pigment deposition. (BioL110F2012 – Confluence,
2012). Multiple Alleles’ Complex Expression Patterns.

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