Pleiotropic gene

Term · Chemistry · MLC-T-CHM-009036

A single gene that influences two or more distinct and seemingly unrelated phenotypic traits in an organism. This occurs because the gene product, such as a protein, may be active in different cell types or participate in multiple biochemical pathways. The gene responsible for phenylketonuria (PKU) is a classic example, as its mutation causes mental retardation, reduced hair pigmentation, and lighter skin color.

Table 1. Record
Identifier	MLC-T-CHM-009036
Field	Chemistry
Subject	Chemistry and the Environment
References	PAC, 1992, 64, 143. 'Glossary for chemists of terms used in biotechnology (IUPAC Recommendations 1992)' on page 163 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199264010143)
See also	Phenotype

Record as JSON

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-009036",
  "term": "Pleiotropic gene",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "A single gene that influences two or more distinct and seemingly unrelated phenotypic traits in an organism. This occurs because the gene product, such as a protein, may be active in different cell types or participate in multiple biochemical pathways. The gene responsible for phenylketonuria (PKU) is a classic example, as its mutation causes mental retardation, reduced hair pigmentation, and lighter skin color.",
  "subject": "Chemistry and the Environment",
  "see_also": [
    "phenotype"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 1992, 64, 143. 'Glossary for chemists of terms used in biotechnology (IUPAC Recommendations 1992)' on page 163 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199264010143)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/pleiotropic-gene/"
}

Record 9,597 of 13,676 in Chemistry terminology (MLC-0109). Request the full dataset.