Final answer:
Epistasis is the interaction between genes where one gene suppresses the effect of another gene at a different locus. An example of epistasis is pigmentation in mice, where a separate gene is necessary for pigment production, and its presence masks the expression of coat color genes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Epistasis is the term used to describe the interaction between genes where one gene suppresses the effect of another gene at a different locus. This interaction is antagonistic, with one gene masking or interfering with the expression of another. The alleles that are being suppressed are called hypostatic to the epistatic alleles that are doing the masking. An example of epistasis is pigmentation in mice, where a separate gene is necessary for pigment production, and its presence masks the expression of coat color genes.