The most common allele of a gene in a population of fruit flies is called the ______ allele.

The most common allele of a gene in a population of fruit flies is called the wild-type allele. This term refers to the version of the gene that is typically found in nature and is considered the standard or normal allele for that gene within a population. Alleles can exhibit variations due to mutations, but the wild-type allele represents the predominant form that contributes to the typical phenotype observed in the organism, in this case, the fruit fly. Understanding the significance of the wild-type allele is essential in genetic studies, as it serves as a baseline for comparing phenotypes and understanding genetic variation within populations.