Define and give examples of pleiotropy and epistasis?

Answer 1

A group of foxes were once bred to be more domestic by choosing the animals most responsive to humans care. Eventually, the foxes were considered to be domestic but it came with a surprise that the dogs had floppy ears, tails that curled up, darker fur and would go on heat more often than normal foxes. They also apparently sounded like dogs. This information is taken from Richard Dawkin's book 'The Greatest Show on Earth'.

Phenylketonuria, which is a human disease that affects multiple systems but is caused by one gene defect.

Answer 2

Pleiotropy is when a single gene influences multiple traits. An example is the gene for Marfan syndrome, which can affect the skeletal system, eyes, and cardiovascular system.

Epistasis is when one gene masks or modifies the effect of another gene. An example is coat color in mice, where one gene determines if pigment is produced while another gene determines the color of the pigment.

Answer 3

Pleitropy is.....

Epistasisis an interaction between nonallelic genes, especially an interaction in which one gene suppresses the expression of another.