Gene Action

Gene Interaction
M.Sc. Microbiology, 2nd Semester

MCB 202 : Genetics and Gene regulation
Gr. A: Fundamental Genetics
by
Dr. Suman Kumar Halder
Introduction
The phenomenon of two or more genes affecting
the expression of each in various ways in the
development of a single character of an organism is
known as gene interaction.
Most of the character of living organisms are
controlled/influenced/governed by a collaboration
of several different genes.
Mendel assumed that characters are governed by
single genes but later it was discovered that many
characters are governed by two or more genes.
Interaction between Allelic genes
Complete Dominance
• When two unlike alleles responsible for a single character

are present in a single individual, one allele can mask the
expression of another allele. That is, one allele is dominant
to the other. The latter is said to be recessive.
• In complete dominance, the effect of one allele in a
heterozygous genotype completely masks the effect of the
other. The phenotype of the heterozygote is
indistinguishable from that of the dominant homozygote.
Each true-breeding plant of the P Generation
parental generation has identical 
alleles, PP or pp.
Appearance: Purple flowers White flowers
Gametes (circles) each contain only
Genetic makeup: PP pp
one allele for the flower-color gene.
In this case, every gamete produced
by one parent has the same allele. Gametes: P p
Union of the parental gametes

produces F1 hybrids having a Pp F1 Generation
combination. Because the purple-
flower allele is dominant, all
these hybrids have purple flowers. Appearance:
Genetic makeup: Purple flowers
When the hybrid plants produce Pp
gametes, the two alleles segregate,
Gametes: 1/ 1/
half the gametes receiving the P
2 P 2 p
allele and the other half the p allele.
F1 sperm
This box, a Punnett square, shows
all possible combinations of alleles P p
in offspring that result from an
F1  F1 (Pp  Pp) cross. Each square F2 Generation
represents an equally probable product P
of fertilization. For example, the bottom
PP Pp
left box shows the genetic combination F1 eggs
resulting from a p egg fertilized by
a P sperm. p
Pp pp
Random combination of the gametes
results in the 3:1 ratio that Mendel
observed in the F2 generation. 3 :1
Incomplete dominance
• One exception to Mendel’s rules is that one allele is always
completely dominant over a recessive allele. Sometimes
an individual has an intermediate phenotype between the
two parents, as there is no true dominant allele. This
pattern of inheritance is called incomplete dominance.
• Incomplete dominance occurs when the phenotype of the
heterozygous genotype is distinct from and often
intermediate to the phenotypes of the homozygous
genotypes.
• For example, the snapdragon flower color is either
homozygous for red or white. When the red homozygous
flower is paired with the white homozygous flower, the
result yields a pink snapdragon flower. The pink
snapdragon is the result of incomplete dominance.
• When plants of the F1 generation are self-
pollinated, the phenotypic and genotypic ratio
of the F2 generation will be 1:2:1
(Red:Pink:White) for both generations
Co-dominance
• Co-dominance occurs when the contributions of

both alleles are visible in the phenotype.
• A condition in which the alleles of a gene pair in

a heterozygote are fully expressed.
• Resulting in offspring with a phenotype that is

neither dominant nor recessive, rather
combination of two.
ABO blood group:
Co-dominance &Multiple Alleles
• ABO blood group system, chemical modifications
on the surfaces of blood cells are controlled by
three alleles (IA, IB and IO) at the ABO locus.
• Two alleles are dominant and completely
expressed (designated IA and IB), while one allele
is recessive (IO).
• The IA allele encodes for red blood cells with the
A antigen, while the IB allele encodes for red
blood cells with the B antigen.
• The IA and IB alleles produce different
modifications, and the non-functional IO allele
produces no modification.
IA and IB alleles are
each dominant to IO.
IAIA and IAIO
individuals both have
type A blood, and IB IB
and IBIO individuals
both have type B
blood. But IAIB
individuals have both
modifications on
their blood cells and
thus have type AB
blood, so the IA and IB
alleles are said to be
co-dominant.
Interaction between Non-allelic genes
v
Duplicate gene interaction
Albino Black Agouti
Bombay phenotype
Pleiotropy
Pleiotropy occurs when one gene
influences two or more seemingly
unrelated phenotypic traits.
Therefore, a mutation in a pleiotropic

gene may have an effect on several
traits simultaneously due to the gene
coding for a product used by a myriad
of cells or different targets that have
the same signaling function.
Pleiotropy describes the genetic

effect of a single gene on multiple
phenotypic traits. The underlying
mechanism is genes that code for a
product that is either used by
various cells or has a cascade-like
signaling function that affects
various targets.
Example:
• Phenylalanine is an amino acid that can be obtained from
food. Phenylketonuria (PKU) causes this amino acid to
increase in amount in the body, which can be very
dangerous.
• The human disease is caused by a defect in a single gene on
chromosome 12 that affects multiple systems.
• The most dangerous form of this is called classic PKU, which
is common in infants. The baby seems normal at first but
actually incurs permanent intellectual disability. This can
cause symptoms such as mental retardation, abnormal gait
and posture, and delayed growth. Because tyrosine is used
by the body to make melanin (a component of the pigment
found in the hair and skin), failure to convert normal levels
of phenylalanine to tyrosine can lead to fair hair and skin.
• Phenylketonuria, results from a recessive allele; persons
homozygous for this allele, if untreated, exhibit mental
retardation, blue eyes, light skin color etc.
• Albinism is the mutation of the tyrosinase gene.
This mutation causes the most common form of
albinism.
• The mutation alters the production of melanin,
thereby affecting melanin-related and other
dependent traits throughout the organism.
• Melanin is a substance made by the body that is
used to absorb light and provides coloration to
the skin. Indications of albinism are the absence
of color in an organism's eyes, hair, and skin, due
to the lack of melanin.

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Gene Interaction

M.Sc. Microbiology, 2nd Semester

• When two unlike alleles responsible for a single character

Union of the parental gametes

• Co-dominance occurs when the contributions of

• A condition in which the alleles of a gene pair in

• Resulting in offspring with a phenotype that is

Therefore, a mutation in a pleiotropic

Pleiotropy describes the genetic

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