What are genetic changes that occur in more than one percent of the population called?

Genetic changes that occur in more than one percent of the population are referred to as polymorphisms. This term specifically denotes variations in the DNA sequence that are common in a population. Polymorphisms can manifest in various forms, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), insertions, deletions, or larger structural changes.

Polymorphisms are important in the study of genetics because they can be associated with different traits or predispositions to diseases within a population. While mutations refer to any alteration in the DNA sequence, the key characteristic of polymorphisms is their prevalence, distinguishing them from rare mutations. Alleles are different forms of a gene that may arise through mutation but do not specifically denote frequency within a population. Variants, while related to changes in genetic sequences, do not carry the same implication about population frequency as polymorphisms do. Thus, the terminology surrounding polymorphisms is crucial for understanding genetic diversity and its implications in biology and medicine.