Question

Which of the following is a possible explanation for pleiotropy?

a) The expression of a single gene can affect cell function in more than one way.

b) A gene may be expressed in different cell types in a multicellular organism.

c) A gene may be expressed at different stages of development.

d) All of the above are possible explanations.

Answer 1

Pleiotropy occurs when a single gene affects multiple traits or aspects of an organism's phenotype. This can happen when a gene's expression has different effects on different cell types or at different stages of development.

Step-by-step explanation:

Pleiotropy refers to a situation in which a single gene affects multiple traits or aspects of an organism's phenotype. The correct option from the given choices is a) The expression of a single gene can affect cell function in more than one way.

In some cases, a gene can have different effects on different cell types or at different stages of development. For example, a gene may control the expression of different proteins in different cells or at different times, leading to a variety of phenotypic outcomes.