Human Growth and Development / Unit 2 HGD 0163 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Pleiotropy and PKU
Captions available
The idea
Pleiotropy is one gene influencing several traits, as in phenylketonuria, or PKU, where the body cannot metabolise the amino acid phenylalanine.
In practice
Untreated PKU bringing cognitive disability, eczema and delayed growth from a single recessive gene.
Where people slip
PKU is treated by limiting phenylalanine in the diet; it affects about one in ten thousand to fifteen thousand births.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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