Zuzu is a white cat.She is genotype Ww for the "white masking gene" that reduces the number of melanocytes (pigment-containing cells).As a result,her body makes pigment,but it cannot get into the cells where it would color the fur.Zuzu's white masking gene is ______ to the melanin pigment gene because it prevents full expression of the pigment.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The term "epistatic" refers to a gene that can mask or interfere with the expression of another gene in a specific biological pathway, such as the production of melanin pigment. In this case, Zuzu's white masking gene is epistatic to the melanin pigment gene, because it prevents the full expression of the pigment even though it is present. The other choices (A, B, C, and E) are not relevant to this genetic scenario.

Zuzu Is a White Cat