Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Biology

Chapter

Principles of Inheritance and Variation

Question:

Phenylketonuria is an example of:

Options:

Epistasis

Co-dominance

Incomplete dominance

Pleiotropy

Correct Answer:

Pleiotropy

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option (4) → Pleiotropy

When a single gene can exhibit multiple phenotypic expression such a gene is called a pleiotropic gene. The underlying mechanism of pleiotropy in most cases is the effect of a gene on metabolic pathways which contribute towards different phenotypes. An example of this is the disease phenylketonuria, which occurs in humans. The disease is caused by mutation in the gene that codes for the enzyme phenyl alanine hydroxylase (single gene mutation). This manifests itself through phenotypic expression characterised by mental retardation and a reduction in hair and skin pigmentation.