What term describes the phenomenon where one single gene influences multiple seemingly unrelated phenotypic traits in an organism?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Pleiotropy
Pleiotropy occurs when a mutation or allele in a single gene produces multiple distinct, seemingly unrelated phenotypic effects across different organ systems. A classic example is Marfan syndrome, where mutations in the single FBN1 gene alter connective tissue in the skeletal, ocular, and cardiovascular systems. Epistasis is where one gene masks another, and polygenic inheritance involves multiple genes affecting one trait.
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