Author
Home > Science > What is the Difference Between Epistasis and Pleiotropy?

Guilherme Mazui

•3 minutes to read

What is the Difference Between Epistasis and Pleiotropy?

🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚

Epistasis and pleiotropy are two distinct phenomena in genetics. The difference between them lies in how genes interact and influence phenotypic traits:

Epistasis:

  1. Epistasis occurs when more than one gene determines a single phenotype.
  2. In epistasis, one gene affects the expression of another gene located at a different location.
  3. Gene interactions take place in epistasis.
  4. For example, many genes may interact with one another throughout embryological development in order to manifest a single trait.

Pleiotropy:

  1. Pleiotropy occurs when a single gene determines multiple phenotypes.
  2. In pleiotropy, some genes affect more than one trait.
  3. Genes do not interact in pleiotropy.
  4. For example, a mutation in a gene that causes phenylketonuria causes a variety of phenotypic consequences, including mental impairment, skin coloring, and hair loss.

In summary, the key difference between epistasis and pleiotropy is that epistasis involves the interaction between two or more genes affecting a single trait, while pleiotropy involves a single gene affecting multiple traits.

On this page
  • What is the Difference Between Epistasis and Pleiotropy?
  • Comparative Table: Epistasis vs Pleiotropy

    • Comparative Table: Epistasis vs Pleiotropy

    Epistasis and pleiotropy are two phenomena in genetics that involve the interaction of multiple genes in determining phenotypes. Here is a table illustrating the differences between them:

    Epistasis Pleiotropy
    The expression of one gene is controlled by the expression of another gene. One gene determines multiple phenotypes.
    The interaction between two genes at different loci influences a single trait. A single gene contributes to several traits.
    Genes interact at separate loci. A gene pair at a single locus influences many phenotypic traits.
    An example of epistasis is the interaction of genes during embryological development. An example of pleiotropy is phenylketonuria, where a mutation in a single gene causes various phenotypic consequences, such as mental impairment, skin coloring, and hair loss.

    Both epistasis and pleiotropy are variations of Mendelian inheritance and show that some genes do not follow traditional inheritance patterns.

    Read more:

    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.