Paralleles

Paralleles is not a term with a formal definition in mainstream genetics or biology. In scholarly writing the word is uncommon, and when it appears it is often the result of a typographical error for alleles or is introduced as a coined term in fictional or speculative contexts.

Possible interpretations vary. In speculative literature or hypothetical models, paralleles could be described as a class of gene variants whose effects are parallel across different genetic backgrounds or environmental conditions. There is no established criteria, coverage, or mechanism, and such usage is not widely recognized by the scientific community.

In practice, if an author intends to use paralleles, they should provide a clear definition, the locus involved, the populations or species compared, and how parallel effects are measured. Without explicit definition, the term risks confusion with alleles, parallel evolution, or statistical artefacts.

Relation to alleles: paralleles would be conceptually linked to alleles, but it is not part of standard genetic terminology. Researchers should rely on established terms whenever possible to avoid ambiguity.

See also: Allele; Gene; Phenotype; Parallel evolution; Population genetics.