Thalidomide was a common treatment for morning sickness in the 1950s.Children born to mothers given this drug showed the phenotypes of a genetic disease known as phocomelia,which involves shortened limbs.This may represent
A) incomplete dominance.
B) genetic heterogeneity.
C) penetrance.
D) phenocopy.
E) incomplete penetrance.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Thalidomide is not a genetic disease, but rather a drug-induced phenotype that mimics the symptoms of phocomelia. This is an example of a phenocopy, where a non-genetic factor (in this case, a drug) produces a phenotype that appears to be genetic.

Thalidomide Was a Common Treatment for Morning Sickness in the 1950s.Children