Allozyme

Allozymes are different forms of the same enzyme that exist within a species, caused by slight variations in their genetic code. These variations occur at specific gene locations, resulting in enzymes with minor structural differences but similar functions. Allozymes are useful for studying genetic diversity, population structure, and evolutionary relationships because their patterns can reveal who is related or how populations are connected. Detecting allozymes typically involves laboratory techniques that separate the enzyme variants based on their charge or shape, allowing scientists to analyze genetic variation at the biochemical level.