Which statement is true about multiple alleles for a trait?

Which statement is true about multiple alleles for a trait?

• A. An individual can have more than two alleles for the trait
• B. Only two alleles exist in the population
• C. There are more than two allele forms that influence the trait
• D. Alleles are always recessive to influence the trait

Answer: (C)

Multiple alleles describes a gene that has more than two allele forms in the population. While any one individual carries only two copies of that gene, the population can harbor many different allele variants. The statement that there are more than two allele forms that influence the trait is the true reflection of this idea. A classic example is the ABO blood group gene, which has three common alleles (A, B, and O) that determine blood type through different combinations, with A and B showing codominance and O being recessive to both. This demonstrates how multiple alleles can influence a trait across individuals. The other ideas don’t fit because a diploid organism cannot have more than two alleles for a single gene, there can be more than two alleles in the population, and alleles are not always recessive—their dominance can vary.

Multiple alleles describes a gene that has more than two allele forms in the population. While any one individual carries only two copies of that gene, the population can harbor many different allele variants. The statement that there are more than two allele forms that influence the trait is the true reflection of this idea. A classic example is the ABO blood group gene, which has three common alleles (A, B, and O) that determine blood type through different combinations, with A and B showing codominance and O being recessive to both. This demonstrates how multiple alleles can influence a trait across individuals. The other ideas don’t fit because a diploid organism cannot have more than two alleles for a single gene, there can be more than two alleles in the population, and alleles are not always recessive—their dominance can vary.