Skip to content

#pleiotropy

8 public questions tagged with this topic.

Which of the following is a correct statement about pleiotropy?

Pleiotropy occurs when a single gene influences multiple phenotypic traits, such as in sickle-ll anemia. This follows from latest NCERT 2026-27 principle explaining the concept clearly for NEET students in simple steps as per rationalized syllabus.

Ref: NCERT Biology Textbook - Latest Edition for Academic Session 2026-27 (Botany section, Rationalized Textbook for Class XI and XII), Chapter: Biology - Botany portion (Latest NCERT Textbooks for Academic Session 2026-27 -

Which of the following represents an example of pleiotropy?

Pleiotropy occurs when a single gene affects multiple traits, as seen in sickle-ll anemia, which impacts oxygen transport and organ function. This follows from NCERT principle where the relation explains the outcome clearly for students in simple steps.

Ref: NCERT Biology Textbook for Class XI and XII (Botany section), Chapter: Cell Structure and Function, Cell Cycle and Biomolecules, Topic: Cell organelles and biomolecular structure.

One gene affecting multiple traits is termed

Pleiotropy occurs when single gene influences multiple apparently unrelated phenotypic traits because gene product functions in several tissues or participates in branched metabolic pathway. Mutation in such gene therefore produces syndromic effects: e.g., fibrillin-1 mutation affecting skeleton, eyes, and aorta in Marfan; phenylalanine hydroxylase deficiency affecting hair color, skin pigmentation, and cognitive development. Mechanistic basis includes protein expression in diverse cell types or substrate used in multiple reactions. This contrasts with polygenic inheritance where many genes affect one trait, codominance where both alleles express, and epistasis involving interaction.

Ref: Griffiths et al., Introduction to Genetic Analysis, 12th ed., Chapter 6: Pleiotropy and Multi-Trait Effects