what is multiple alleles in genetics

Multiple alleles refer to the existence of three or more alleles for a particular gene in a population. Typically, there are only two alleles for a gene in a diploid organism, one from each parent. However, when there is a gene existing in more than two allelic forms, this condition is referred to as multiple allelism. These genetic variations arise usually through mutation and therefore are responsible for hereditary variations. Although individual humans (and all diploid organisms) can only have two alleles for any given gene in genetics, multiple allele traits may exist at the population level. Multiple alleles are important in promoting variation within the same species. An example of multiple alleles is coat color in rabbits, where four alleles exist for the c gene.