Which genetic concept refers to alleles that can cause early death when present in a recessive form?

The concept that refers to alleles that can cause early death when present in a recessive form is known as lethal alleles. In genetics, a lethal allele is a variant of a gene that, when present in a homozygous state, can lead to the death of an organism. This typically happens when the homozygous recessive condition disrupts a vital biological process or development, ultimately preventing the individual from surviving to adulthood or even birth.

Lethal alleles can profoundly impact the inheritance patterns of traits within a population, as individuals carrying these alleles may not pass them on to the next generation, leading to specific ratios in offspring phenotypes. Understanding lethal alleles is essential in genetics, as they illustrate how specific allele combinations can have significant, sometimes fatal consequences for an organism's development.