Allele
An alternative DNA sequence found at a particular position in the genome. In a diploid cannabis plant, the two copies at that position may carry the same or different alleles.
An allele is one version of a DNA sequence at a particular genomic location, called a locus. A population can contain many alleles at one locus even though a diploid Diploid Having two complete sets of chromosomes, one inherited from each parent. Cannabis is normally diploid, with 20 chromosomes arranged in 10 pairs. plant ordinarily carries no more than two of them, one on each member of a homologous chromosome pair.
When both copies match, the plant is homozygous at that locus. When they differ, it is heterozygous. The effect of an allele depends on what the sequence does and how it interacts with the other copy. Dominance is one possible relationship, not a rule that applies to every gene or trait.
Alleles contribute to differences among cannabis cultivars, including differences in growth, chemistry, disease response, and pigmentation. Most visible traits are influenced by multiple genes and by the environment, so finding an allele does not by itself predict the finished plant.