Allele is a variant form of a gene at a particular locus on a chromosome. In genetics, individuals typically carry two alleles for each gene, one inherited from each parent, which can influence inherited traits. The term is used to describe different versions that may explain variations in phenotype or genotype within a population.
- US: /ˈæliːl/ with a clear, non-rhotic? US is rhotic in r-color, but 'allele' ends with L, so no rhotic influence. Ensure the first vowel is /æ/ as in 'cat', and the second syllable is /liː/ with a long 'ee' sound. - UK: similar to US; some speakers may have a slightly more centralized /æ/ and crisper /liːl/. - AU: maintain /ˈæliːl/ with a slightly broader vowel in /æ/ and a tighter but still clear /iː/. Across all, keep the second vowel long and ensure the final /l/ is light but audible. IPA anchors: /ˈæ.liːl/. - Tips: practice with connected speech to avoid over-enunciating the L, which may blur the vowel quality.
"Researchers identified a dominant allele for coat color in the population."
"A person can be homozygous or heterozygous for a given allele on a gene."
"The allele frequency in the population helps determine evolutionary trends."
"Some alleles confer resistance to a disease, while others do not."
Allele comes from the German Allel, stemming from the French allèle, both ultimately derived from Greek allos meaning 'other, another.' The term was coined in the early 20th century by sociologist and population genetics pioneer Wilhelm Johannsen to describe alternative forms of a gene at a specific locus. Its adoption reflected a shift in genetics from simply naming genes to recognizing that a single gene can exist in multiple variants with distinct sequences and potentially different phenotypic effects. The concept gained rapid prominence as Thomas Hunt Morgan and colleagues refined linkage and crossing-over work, which required precise terminology for different gene forms transmitted across generations. In modern usage, alleles are central to Mendelian and population genetics, foundational for understanding dominance, recessivity, and genetic variation within populations. The first widely cited usage appears in German and English scientific texts around the 1910s-1920s, aligning with the blossoming of modern genetics. Over decades, allele has become a standard noun in biology curricula, with two alleles per gene commonly emphasized in diploid organisms like humans. Contemporary discussions extend to allele frequency, haplotypes, and allele-specific expression in genomics.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Allele" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Allele"
-dle sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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You say it as /ˈæ.liːl/ in US and UK English, with a stressed first syllable. The second syllable has a long 'ee' sound. In IPA: US/UK /ˈæliːl/. Australian typically preserves the same vowels: /ˈæliːl/. Tip: keep the mouth open wider for the first vowel and glide into a long, tense 'ee' in the second. Audio reference: you can compare to 'axial' without the 'x' sound, focusing on the long 'ee' ending.
Two common errors: (1) Reducing the second syllable to a short 'l' or 'eh' instead of the long 'ee' (/iː/). (2) Misplacing the stress, saying 'al-LELE' or 'a-LEEL' with wrong emphasis. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable /ˈæ/ and ensure the second syllable uses a long /iː/ with a clear L-final. Practice with slow repetition: /ˈæ.liːl/ and exaggerate the long 'ee' to solidify the vowel.
Across US/UK/AU, the primary stress remains on the first syllable /ˈæ/. The vowels overlap: US and UK share /æ/ for the first vowel and /iː/ for the second. Australian is similar, but vowel quality can be slightly more centralized; some Australian speakers may exhibit a marginally shorter /iː/. Consonants are typically clear Ls in all, with rhoticity not affecting 'allele' since the word doesn’t end in a rhotic vowel. Overall, minimal phonetic variation; focus on length and crisp /liːl/.
The challenge lies in the long vowel in the second syllable and the final 'l' sound after a long vowel, which requires precise tongue position: /liːl/ demands a high front tense vowel followed by an 'l' release without intrusion. Many speakers glaze over the long /iː/ and shorten the second syllable, or mispronounce as /ˈælɪl/ with a reduced first vowel. Focusing on maintaining a clean /iː/ and full alveolar L helps clarity in scientific dialogue.
Is there a silent component in 'allele'? No. Every syllable is voiced: /ˈæ.liːl/. The second syllable features a tense, long vowel, so you hear two clear open vowels followed by an 'l'. Some speakers may slip into /ˈæl.iːl/ with reduced first vowel if rushed; ensure the first vowel is open and stable /æ/ and that you hold the /iː/ long before the final /l/.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "Allele"!
- Shadowing: listen to native speakers saying /ˈæ.liːl/ and repeat in real time, aiming for identical rhythm and vowel length. - Minimal pairs: compare /æliːl/ vs /ælɪl/ (short /i/), /ælɪl/ (different first vowel) to sharpen vowel length and quality. - Rhythm: two-beat word; stress on first syllable; use evenly timed syllables. Practice with a metronome at 60-90 BPM and then accelerate. - Intonation: in sentences, pair with a slight rise on the content word, then fall at the end; keep the word distinctly heard within noun phrases. - Stress practice: practice in isolation, then in two-word phrases: 'allele frequency', 'dominant allele', 'recessive allele'. - Recording: record yourself, compare to native pronunciations, adjust vowel length and L articulation. - Context sentences: 'The dominant allele influences phenotype.' 'A heterozygous genotype carries two different alleles.'
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