hypostatic gene
Quick Summary
A hypostatic gene is a gene that is subordinate to an epistatic gene, meaning its phenotypic expression is masked by the epistatic gene. In simpler terms, an epistatic gene determines whether another gene's trait will be expressed.12
A classic example is albinism in humans. The gene for albinism can be epistatic to genes that determine skin color. If an individual has the albino condition, the genes for skin color are present but not expressed. This means that even if someone has genes for darker skin, albinism can prevent pigment development, resulting in an albino appearance regardless of the other genes present. This phenomenon helps explain variability in the expression of some inherited human diseases.21
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