Question

Around 40% of cats with white fur and blue eyes are deaf. The gene responsible is pleiotropic. What does this mean?

Answer 1

I honestly think its a

Answer 2

Answer:

The correct answer is option C) "A single gene is responsible for pigmentation and hearing".

Explanation:

Gene pleiotropy describes a genetic effect at which a single gene causes multiple phenotypic traits. The mechanism of pleiotropy is that a gene codes for a product that is used in multiple cell mechanisms. In this example 40 % of cats with white fur and blue eyes are deaf and the gene responsible is pleiotropic. This means that a single gene is responsible for pigmentation and hearing and the gene codes for a product that causes these two phenotypic traits on cats.