Write short note on pleiotropy.

Explanation

There are instances where a single gene can exhibit multiple phenotypic expression.
= Such a gene is called a pleiotropic gene.
= The underlying mechanism of pleiotropy in most cases is the effect of a gene on metabolic pathways which constribute towards different phenotypes.
= An example of this is the disease phenylketonuria, which occurs in humans.
= The disease is caused by mutation in the gene that codes for the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase (single gene mutation). This manifests itself through phenotypic expression characterised by mental retardation and reduction in hair and skin pigmentation.