Question

A disease called phenylketonuria causes mental diseases, reduces skin pigmentation, and also affects the coloration of urine. What kind of effect is exhibited by the gene responsible for this disease?

Answer 1

a single gene influences multiple traits.

Step-by-step explanation:

Pleiotropy occurs when a single gene influences multiple traits.

Answer 2

Pleiotropic effect.

Step-by-step explanation:

• A gene is said to exert a pleiotropic effect when a single gene has an influence on two or more traits that may or may not be related to each other.
• Due to the effect on more than one phenotypic traits, any mutation in this gene will lead to a variety of symptoms.
• As given in the case of phenylketonuria, a lot of traits are being affected (skin color, mental health, and urine color) this shows that the gene is exerting a pleiotropic effect.