What Term is Used for a Gene That Contributes to More

Question

What term is used for a gene that contributes to more than one phenotype?
A) Pleiotropic
B) Epistatic
C) Dominant
D) Complex

Accepted Answer

A pleiotropic gene is a gene that affects multiple phenotypic traits. This means that a single gene can impact various aspects of an organism's development or physiology. This is in contrast to a gene with a single effect on one trait (known as a "simple" or "Mendelian" gene). Epistatic genes interact with other genes to influence phenotypic traits, but do not necessarily impact multiple traits on their own. Dominant genes have a clear dominant allele that masks the effect of the recessive allele. "Complex" is not a specific term used to describe a type of gene, but rather is a term used to describe traits or disorders that have multiple genetic and environmental influences.