pleiotropy
[/plaɪˈɒtrəpi/ or /pleɪˈɒtrəpi/]
nounpl: pleiotropies
pleiotropia
1. A genetic phenomenon in which a single gene influences multiple, seemingly unrelated phenotypic traits
The gene for eye color in fruit flies demonstrates pleiotropy by also affecting body color.
O gene para a cor dos olhos em moscas-das-frutas demonstra pleiotropia ao afetar também a cor do corpo.
2. The condition where one gene produces multiple, distinct effects in an organism
Pleiotropy explains why mutations in a single gene can cause multiple symptoms in genetic disorders.
A pleiotropia explica por que mutações em um único gene podem causar múltiplos sintomas em distúrbios genéticos.
Pleiotropy is a fundamental concept in genetics education in both Brazil and the USA. The term is used identically in scientific contexts across both countries and is essential to understanding genetic inheritance patterns, particularly in medical genetics and evolutionary biology. The phenomenon has practical implications in breeding programs and pharmaceutical development.
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