What is an Alternative Allele?

In genetics, an alternative allele is a version of a gene that differs from the most common form found in the population. It’s simply one of the possible genetic variants you can inherit from your parents.

You inherit two copies of each gene—one from each parent—and each copy can be a different allele. These alleles can influence how a gene functions and, in some cases, how it relates to health.

How Alternative Alleles Can Affect Health

Some alternative alleles are associated with:

• Increased risk for certain health conditions
• Decreased risk or protective effects
• No noticeable impact at all

For example, a gene related to heart health may have multiple alleles:

• One allele that’s associated with higher heart disease risk
• Another allele that may be associated with lower risk

Looking at the Bigger Picture

Your overall health profile isn’t determined by a single allele. Instead, it’s influenced by the combination of alleles you carry across many genes.

• Having several alleles associated with higher risk may increase susceptibility for certain conditions
• Having more protective alleles may lower risk in specific health areas

This is why SelfDecode evaluates many genes together—to provide a more complete and balanced view of how your genetics may influence your health.