Epistasis

Definition

Epistasis is when the alleles of one gene mask or alter the expression of another gene. It occurs when the phenotypic effect of one gene depends on the presence or absence of certain alleles at another gene.

Related terms

Gene interaction: Gene interaction refers to how different genes can interact with each other to produce a certain phenotype. It includes phenomena like epistasis, where one gene affects the expression of another.

Phenotype:

Phenotype refers to the observable characteristics or traits of an organism that are influenced by its genetic makeup and environmental factors.

Allele:

An allele is a variant form of a gene that arises through mutation and is responsible for producing different traits within a population.