In: Biology
Two mutations complement each other. What can be said about this?
a) The mutations are not in essential genes.
b) The mutations are epigenetic.
c) The mutations affect the same gene.
d) The mutations affect different genes.
e) None of the above.
Answer: d) The mutations affect different genes
When two mutations occur in different genes, they are said to be complementary. Complementation occurs when two strains of an organism with homozygous recessive mutations (that produces the same mutant phenotype) produce offsprings with the wild-type phenotype when mated or crossed. This complementation occurs only if the mutations are in different genes. In other words, complementation will not occur if the mutations are in the same gene.
In genetics there is a test called complementation test, for determining whether two mutations associated with a phenotype is present in same gene (cis-complementation test) or different genes (trans-complementation test).