Question

What type of gene interaction is epistasis characterized by?

a) Suppressing
b) Enhancing
c) Influencing
d) Modifying

Answer 1

Epistasis involves a gene interaction where one gene, the epistatic allele, antagonistically suppresses the expression of another gene, the hypostatic allele, within a biochemical pathway.

Step-by-step explanation:

Epistasis is characterized by a type of gene interaction in which one gene masks or modifies the expression of another gene. This interaction can be antagonistic, where the expression of an allele for one gene either suppresses or interferes with the expression of an allele for a different gene.

Often, this occurs within a gene pathway where the function of one gene is dependent on another gene either before or after it in the pathway. In cases of epistasis, the alleles being masked are referred to as hypostatic to the epistatic alleles that are doing the masking.

Answer 2

Epistasis is a suppressive gene interaction where the expression of one gene allele masks or modifies the expression of another gene allele in a gene pathway. Option a) Suppressing is the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The type of gene interaction characterized by epistasis is primarily suppressive. In epistasis, the interaction between genes is antagonistic, meaning that the expression of an allele for one gene masks or modifies the expression of an allele for a different gene.

The allele that is being covered up is often referred to as hypostatic, while the allele doing the masking is known as epistatic. This typically occurs in a gene pathway where the function of one gene is dependent on another gene that precedes or follows it in the pathway.

Therefore, the correct option in the final answer is (a) Suppressing.