Question

in a species that has five different alleles for a gene at a particular locus, how many different alleles may be present in the somatic cells of one diploid individual? answer is Two, can someone explain why?

Answer 1

Genes are carried on chromosomes. Alleles are just various messages a specific gene can have.

Imagine that genes are emails. Each parent sends the offspring an email. The email contains a message about what sort of characteristics the offspring will have. In this case, there are five different possible messages that Mom can send, and the same five that Dad can send. But each parent can only send one message each. There are two parents, so the kid gets two messages.

Answer 2

thanks, that makes sense.

Answer 3

Cool, not a prob. :D