The B-I mutation in anthocyanin (red pigments)produces pigmented corn plants,whereas the B′ mutation in the same gene produces nearly unpigmented corn plants.Normally,when B-I is crossed with recessive colorless alleles of the b gene,the resulting plants are pigmented.However,when B-I and B′ plants are intercrossed,the F₁ plants are essentially unpigmented,like the B′ homozygotes.Thus,B-I is altered by being in the same genome as B′.If this outcome were due simply to the dominance of B′ to B-I,then a self-cross of the F₁ plants should generate B-I-colored homozygotes as approximately 1/4 of the F₂ progeny.Instead,no F₂ are pigmented.Intercrosses of the F₂ and of further generations do not restore the pigmented phenotype.What is the term for this type of inheritance?
A)Mendelian inheritance
B)organelle genome inheritance
C)allelic inheritance
D)epigenetic inheritance

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This type of inheritance is known as epigenetic inheritance, where the expression of a gene is altered due to the presence or absence of other genes, rather than due to changes in the DNA sequence itself. In this case, the presence of the B′ mutation alters the expression of the B-I gene, leading to the unpigmented phenotype even in the presence of the dominant B-I allele. The lack of restoration of the pigmented phenotype in subsequent generations suggests that this alteration is heritable and not simply due to environmental factors.

The B-I Mutation in Anthocyanin (Red Pigments)produces Pigmented Corn Plants,whereas