noun
- The condition in which a single gene influences or controls multiple, seemingly unrelated phenotypic traits.
Usage: genetics; technical
Examples
- Pleiotropism explains why a mutation in one gene can affect several different characteristics of an organism.
- The classic example of pleiotropism is the gene for coat color in mice, which also influences eye pigmentation.
- Researchers studying pleiotropism have discovered that many human genetic disorders result from a single gene affecting multiple body systems.
- Pleiotropism complicates genetic mapping because a single locus may produce effects on traits that seem completely unrelated.
- Understanding pleiotropism is essential for predicting the full consequences of genetic mutations in breeding programs.