AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -In classical genetics, if genes A and B are mutated, and each mutation by itself produces a unique phenotype but the two mutations together show the same phenotype as the gene A mutation, then gene A is epistatic and gene B is hypostatic. For example, the gene for total baldness is epistatic to the gene for brown hair.

Detailed explanation-2: -Epistasis – Example Malvidin, a chemical is produced by Primula, a plant. Production of Malvidin is determined by the K gene where the suppression of its production is regulated by the D gene. Both of these genes are dominant characteristics.

Detailed explanation-3: -A gene is said to be epistatic when its presence suppresses the effect of a gene at another locus. Epistatic genes are sometimes called inhibiting genes because of their effect on other genes which are described as hypostatic.

Detailed explanation-4: -Epistasis results from the way in which genetic elements interact with each other in their ‘causation’ of a phenotype and, ultimately, fitness.