Glossary
- alleles
- Variants of a gene that may be followed genetically, usually through their phenotypic effect, but also using a molecular assay, such as PCR.
- antagonistic pleiotropy
- Refers to a situation in which a single gene creates multiple opposing effects, such that beneficial effects of a trait created by the gene are offset by 'losses' in other traits.
- phenotypes
- The observable traits or characteristics of an organism, such as its biochemical, morphological, physiological or behavioural characteristics.
- pleiotropic
- Describes a cellular process, signal or gene that has more than one effect, or more than one phenotypic outcome. At the genetic level, describes a situation where a single mutation affects two or more apparently unrelated phenotypic traits.