Phenocopy

Phenocopy

A phenocopy is an individual whose phenotype (generally referring to a single trait), under a particular environmental condition, is identical to the one of another individual whose phenotype is determined by the genotype. In other words the phenocopy environmental condition mimics the phenotype produced by a gene.

An incorrect example of a phenocopy is a person with bleached brunette hair; the bleached hair is intended to mimic genetically determined blonde hair of actual blonde people. The false phenocopy can be easily distinguished by observing the roots of the hair or by shining an ultraviolet light on the bleached brunette hair.

A correct example of a phenocopy is a person whose anti-psychotic medication causes them to manifest the same symptoms as the genetically determined Parkinsons disease.

An example of a phenocopy are the Vanessa genus of butterflies who can change phenotype based on the local temperature. If introduced to Lapland they mimic butterflies localised to this area and if localised to Syria they mimic buterflies of this area. These phenotypes aren't inherited and are solely down to environment.

It is not a type of mutation.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • phenocopy — phenocopy. См. фенокопия. (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • phenocopy — [fē′nō käp΄ē] n. pl. phenocopies [ PHENO(TYPE) + COPY] Genetics an environmentally induced change in an organism that is similar to a mutation but is nonhereditary …   English World dictionary

  • phenocopy — fenokopija statusas T sritis ekologija ir aplinkotyra apibrėžtis Nepaveldimas organizmo fenotipo pokytis – modifikacija, pagal pasireiškimą sutampanti su kokia nors žinoma mutacija. atitikmenys: angl. phenocopy vok. Phänokopie, f rus. фенокопия,… …   Ekologijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • phenocopy — fenokopija statusas T sritis augalininkystė apibrėžtis Morfozės, kurios yra fenotipiškai panašios į kurią nors žinomą mutaciją. atitikmenys: angl. phenocopy rus. фенокопия …   Žemės ūkio augalų selekcijos ir sėklininkystės terminų žodynas

  • phenocopy — noun Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary phenotype + copy Date: 1937 a phenotypic variation that is caused by unusual environmental conditions and resembles the normal expression of a genotype other than its own …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • phenocopy — An environmentally produced phenotype simulating the effect of a particular genotype …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • phenocopy — /fee neuh kop ee/, n., pl. phenocopies. Genetics. the observed result of an environmentally induced, nongenetic alteration of a phenotype to a form that resembles the expression of a known genetic mutation. [ < G Phänokopie (1935); see PHENOTYPE …   Universalium

  • phenocopy — 1. noun A variation in an organism that resembles a genetic one, but has an environmental rather than a genetic cause, and is not inherited 2. verb To copy a genetic variation through environmental manipulation …   Wiktionary

  • Phenocopy — A defect due to an environmental agent that imitates that produced by a specific gene. * * * An environmentally induced mimic of a disease that is characteristically produced by a specific gene. [G. phaino, to display, + copy] * * * phe·no·copy… …   Medical dictionary

  • phenocopy — phe·no·copy …   English syllables

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”