The phrase
"common alleles" refers to versions of a gene that are frequently found in a population. It means that these variations of the gene are more commonly inherited by individuals within a group.
Full definition
The density of C > G SNPs in this 10 % of the genome is also very high, with considerable variability in the frequency of the
less common allele.
In contrast, more than 70
other common alleles have been associated with breast cancer susceptibility, most of which confer only a mild to moderate increase in risk.
We have
identified common alleles of genes that contribute significantly to both of the principal processes involved in obesity — basic energy metabolism on the one hand and the regulation of appetite on the other,» said Kari Stefansson, CEO of deCODE.
According to the Genetic Science Learning Center at the University of Utah, TAS2R8 has two
common alleles and at least five rare alleles.
In their study, the researchers referred to
the common allele as «T,» and the less common allele, which produces less BDNF protein, as «C.»
Thus, identifying one of
these common alleles would not have the same implications for medical management as would finding a pathogenic mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2.
The dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4) is a highly polymorphic gene that consists of a 48 base pair VNTR that can be repeated 2 to 11 times, although 2, 4, and 7 are the most
common alleles.