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allele

n. an alternate form of a gene that occupies a given position on each of a pair of homologous chromosomes. Each person typically has two alleles of each gene: One is inherited from the mother and the other from the father. Alleles may be alike (homozygous) or different (heterozygous) and are responsible for variation in inherited characteristics, such as hair color or blood type. See also dominant allele; recessive allele. —allelic adj.

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Psychology term of the day

November 16th 2024

behavioral pediatrics

behavioral pediatrics

a multidisciplinary specialty that is often part of pediatric psychology, clinical child psychology, and health psychology. Practitioners address such problems as habit disorders, oppositional behavior, sleep and eating disorders, and physical health problems (e.g., traumatic brain injury). In the medical literature, the specialty is also called developmental-behavioral pediatrics.