What is Gene Interactions?

• Gene interactions refer to how genes interact (talk) with each other to influence
traits or phenotypes.
• This interaction can involve different types of genes, such as allelic or non-allelic
genes of the same genotype, affecting the expression of specific characteristics.
• Gene interactions play a crucial role in defining functional relationships between
genes and pathways, revealing how multiple genes work together to determine
various biological outcomes, influencing the complexity of biological processes and
disease development.
• Through genetic modifier screens and other strategies, researchers can identify and
study these interactions to unravel the underlying mechanisms of gene networks.
• These interactions can have significant effects on the phenotype of an organism
and are essential for understanding the complexity of genetic inheritance and the
expression of traits
 Types of Gene Interactions
• There are two main categories of gene
interactions: allelic and non-allelic gene
interactions.
1. Allelic Gene Interactions: involve alleles of the
same gene or allelic combinations between different
genes with quantitative traits common in single
gene interactions. Some types of allelic gene
interactions include:
• Complete Dominance: One allele is completely
dominant over the other, masking the effects of the
recessive allele.
• Incomplete Dominance: When two organisms with
different traits are crossed, their offspring show an
intermediate phenotype that is a combination of the
parental traits.
• Co-dominance: Both alleles of a gene pair in a
heterozygote are fully expressed, resulting in a
• Examples of allelic interactions include allelic (intragenic)
complementation.
• These interactions play a crucial role in understanding the genetic
basis of complex diseases and quantitative traits.
• Such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and susceptibility to
diseases like diabetes and cancer.
• Allelic gene interactions are also significant in the context of gene-
environment interactions, where allelic variations can influence how
individuals respond to environmental factors.
2. Non-Allelic Gene Interactions: These involve genes located on different
chromosomes or different loci on the same chromosome. Some types of
non-allelic gene interactions include:
• Epistasis: One gene masks or modifies the effects of another gene. Epistasis can
be of two types: dominant epistasis, where the presence of a dominant allele at
one gene locus masks the effects of alleles at another, and recessive epistasis,
where the presence of a recessive allele at one gene locus masks the effects of
alleles at another.
• Complementary Genes: Two or more genes located at different loci and
inherited from different parents complement each other's functions and require
their combined presence for the phenotype to be expressed.
• Duplicate Gene Action: When one gene is present in multiple copies, its effects
can be additive or synergistic.
• Non-allelic gene interactions refer to interactions between genes that
are not located on the same chromosome or are not alleles of the same
gene.
• These interactions can involve two or more independent genes located
on different chromosomes.
• Non-allelic gene interactions can lead to various genetic outcomes and
are distinct from allelic gene interactions, which involve alleles of the
same gene.
• In cases of non-allelic gene interactions, the genes involved can influence
each other's expression or function, impacting traits and genetic
outcomes.
• Non-allelic or inter-genic gene interactions, involve multiple genes
interacting to produce new expressions.
• Examples like ABO blood groups and rabbit coat color demonstrate
the significance of multiple alleles in increasing genotypic and
phenotypic variation.
An Analogy for Genes Working Together
Adding Epistasis

This version of a is epistatic to b and c: it hides their

output.

This version of c is epistatic to a and b: it hides their

output
 Gene Interactions
• Epistasis, a form of gene interaction, involves
the impact of alleles from one gene on the
expression of alleles from another gene.
• Epistasis can manifest in different ways, such
as recessive epistasis and dominant epistasis.
• In recessive epistasis, one gene's alleles mask
the expression of another gene's alleles,
altering phenotypic ratios like 9:3:4.
• An example is Labrador Retrievers where the
ee genotype masks the effects of B locus
alleles on hair color. Conversely, dominant
epistasis occurs when a dominant allele at
one locus suppresses the phenotype of a
second locus, resulting in ratios like 12:3:1.
• Dominant epistasis is seen in squash plants where a dominant allele
at one locus blocks pigment synthesis, leading to white fruit
regardless of alleles at another locus.

These examples illustrate how gene interactions through epistasis can

significantly influence phenotypic outcomes
 Application
• In real-life scenarios, these gene interactions play vital roles in various fields such as
forensics, medicine, and agriculture by influencing traits like blood type, pigmentation,
and other complex phenotypic outcomes.
• Codominance:
• Example: MN blood groups in humans where individuals with both M and N markers on red blood
cells exhibit both markers simultaneously.
• Real-Life Application: Blood typing in forensic investigations or medical transfusions benefits from
codominance as it allows for precise identification of blood types.
• Epistasis:
• Example: Pigmentation in mice where the C gene suppresses the expression of the A gene, resulting
in an albino phenotype.
• Real-Life Application: Understanding epistasis is crucial in breeding programs to predict and control
phenotypic outcomes in animals and plants.
• Multiple Alleles:
• Example: Human ABO blood group system with multiple alleles (A, B, O) determining blood type.
• Real-Life Application: Medical genetics uses multiple alleles to match organ donors and recipients
based on blood compatibility.