pleiotropy

American  

[plahy-o-truh-pee] / plaɪˈɒ trə pi /

noun

Genetics.

1. the phenomenon of one gene being responsible for or affecting more than one phenotypic characteristic.

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Other Word Forms

• pleiotropic adjective

Etymology

Origin of pleiotropy

First recorded in 1935–40; pleio- + -tropy

Example Sentences

"The antagonistic pleiotropy hypothesis predicts that most mutations that increase reproduction but reduce lifespan have larger fitness advantages than disadvantages so are selectively favored," Zhang said.

From Science Daily • Dec. 8, 2023

In genetics, the concept of pleiotropy posits that a single mutation can influence multiple traits.

From Science Daily • Dec. 8, 2023

It’s a classic case of antagonistic pleiotropy, where a process that is beneficial earlier in life becomes harmful later on.

From Scientific American • Jul. 31, 2023

Over the past decade, genetic correlation analysis has become the primary method for assessing potential pleiotropy across fields as diverse as internal medicine, social science and psychiatry.

From Salon • Dec. 12, 2022

Efforts to dissect the genotype–phenotype map in model organisms and humans have revealed unexpected complexities, implicating many, novel loci, pervasive pleiotropy, and context-dependent effects.

From Nature • Feb. 8, 2012