epistasis
/ɪˈpɪstəsɪs
/noun [mass noun] Genetics
The interaction of genes that are not alleles, in particular the suppression of the effect of one such gene by another.Genetic epistasis of gene expression can also be considered with large sample sizes....
- For geneticists, epistasis is associated with the limits of the additive model of gene action.
- These results suggest that future genetic models for the evolution of aging should incorporate the effects of epistasis.
Derivatives
epistatic
- The results suggested that a minimum of two genes with epistatic effects were involved in the genetic control of cleistogamy.
- Thus, neither allele is epistatic to the other in permitting the occurrence of expansions or contractions.
- Such sites may be indicative of hotspots of recombination or mutation or epistatic selection.
Origin
Early 19th century: from Greek, literally 'stoppage', from ephistanai 'to stop'.