The scientific term for a mutated form of a gene is called an allele. Alleles represent different versions of the same gene that can result in variations in traits among individuals. Genetic mutations may occur naturally or through environmental influences and can lead to altered functions of the encoded proteins. Some alleles confer distinct traits, while others may have no visible effects. Genes can have dominant or recessive alleles, influencing how traits are expressed in an organism. Studying alleles is essential in fields like genetics to understand inheritance patterns, evolution, and disease susceptibility.