Question

A gene pair hides the effect of another gene. The phenomenon is called

• A. dominance
• B. segregation
• C. epistasis
• D. mutation.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

To answer the question of which phenomenon describes a gene pair hiding the effect of another gene, we need to explore the concepts related to genetic interactions.

The correct answer is epistasis. Let us examine why this is the case and rule out the other options:

1. Dominance: This term refers to a situation where one allele masks the expression of another allele at the same gene locus. While dominance involves alleles at a single gene locus, it does not involve the interaction between different gene pairs.
2. Segregation: This refers to the separation of alleles during meiosis, resulting in each parent passing a single allele to their offspring. Segregation explains how alleles are transmitted across generations, not how one gene affects another.
3. Epistasis: This phenomenon occurs when one gene (epistatic) affects or masks the expression of another gene (hypostatic) at a different loci. This can modify phenotypic ratios expected from Mendelian inheritance patterns. For example, in Labrador retrievers, the coat color is determined by two genes, where one gene can mask the effect of the other, resulting in different coat colors (black, brown, yellow).
4. Mutation: A mutation is a change in the DNA sequence that may affect a gene's function. Although mutations can affect gene expression, they do not explain the specific interaction where one gene pair hides the effect of another, as described by epistasis.

Thus, the phenomenon where a gene pair hides the effect of another gene is termed epistasis.