The growth factor bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4) was first identified as a

Question

The growth factor bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4) was first identified as a bone-forming factor by its ability to form bone tissue when injected into muscle. However, it has since been found to also play important roles in neural development and the formation of a large variety of tissues. Mutations in the BMP-4 gene are therefore expected to cause a wide range of abnormalities. Which term best describes this phenomenon?

a. Pleiotropy

b. Overdominance

c. Incomplete dominance

d. Dominance series

e. Duplicate interaction

Explanation / Answer

Ans. "Pleiotropy" is the condition which describes this phenomenon. The term Pleiotropy refers to the effect of a single gene on more than one character/trait like here protein 4 (BMP-4)  was first identified as a bone-forming factor by its ability to form bone tissue when injected into muscle and it has been found to also play important roles in neural development and the formation of a large variety of tissues. So, the mutation in this protein expected to cause a wide range of abnormalities.

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