What is the term for the variations of a gene that can exist in a population?

• A. Chromosomes
• B. Phenotypes
• C. Alleles
• D. Genotypes

Answer: (C)

The term for the variations of a gene that can exist in a population is alleles. Alleles are different forms of a gene that arise due to mutations and can result in variations in traits among individuals within a species. Each individual inherits two alleles for each gene, one from each parent, which contribute to the individual's genotype and, subsequently, the phenotype.

Chromosomes refer to long strands of DNA that carry many genes, but they are not variations of a gene themselves. Phenotypes describe the observable traits or characteristics of an organism, which result from the interaction between the genotype and the environment rather than being the variations of a gene. Genotypes represent the genetic makeup of an organism, including the specific alleles present, but do not denote the variations of genes directly. Therefore, the correct term for gene variations within a population is indeed alleles.