Question

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

Answer 1

Pleiotropy occurs when one gene influences multiple, seemingly unrelated phenotypic traits. A single gene is responsible for pigmentation and hearing.

Answer 2

Answer:

When a single gene is responsible for controlling multiple traits then the gene is said to be pleiotropic.

Explanation:

• A pleiotropic gene is a gene that controls many functions and thus, a mutation in this single gene is going to show its effect in several traits.
• Since, the gene responsible for white fur in cats is also responsible for eye colour and hearing and thus, it controls more than one trait and hence, it is pleiotropic.