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Pleiotropy refers to
Aone gene affecting multiple phenotypic traits
Bmultiple genes controlling one trait
Ctwo alleles blending
Dabsence of inheritance
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. one gene affecting multiple phenotypic traits
1. When a single gene influences several unrelated phenotypic characters, it shows pleiotropic effect.
2. Example: phenylketonuria affects skin colour, mental development and pigment metabolism.
3. Hence one gene → multiple traits.
_Source: Maharashtra Balbharati Std XII Biology, Ch 3 "Inheritance and Variation" §3.5_
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