Question

Which of the following relationships among alleles of a single gene best explains the observation that a single change in the gene encoding α-keratin results in chickens with frizzled feathers, increased food consumption, higher heart rate and delayed sexual maturity?

Homozygous locus
Pleiotropy
Incomplete dominance
Codominance

Answer 1

The best explanation for the observation that a single change in the gene encoding α-keratin results in multiple effects (frizzled feathers, increased food consumption, higher heart rate, and delayed sexual maturity) is **Pleiotropy**.

Pleiotropy occurs when a single gene influences multiple phenotypic traits. In this case, the mutation in the α-keratin gene affects various physiological and morphological traits in the chickens, demonstrating the concept of pleiotropy.