Expressivity (genetics)
Expressivity (genetics)
Expressivity (/ɪkˌsprɛsɪˈvɪti/) is a term used in genetics to describe the degree to which a genotype is expressed in the phenotype of an organism. The concept of expressivity is closely related to that of penetrance, but while penetrance refers to the likelihood that a genotype will produce any observable effect at all, expressivity refers to the extent or intensity of that effect.
Etymology
The term "expressivity" is derived from the English word "express," which in this context means to show or reveal something. The "-ivity" suffix is used to form nouns that denote a state or condition. Thus, "expressivity" refers to the state or condition of being expressed.
Definition
In genetics, expressivity is a measure of the extent to which a genetic mutation affects the phenotype of an organism. It is often quantified as a percentage, with 100% expressivity indicating that the mutation has a full effect on the phenotype, and lower percentages indicating less effect. Expressivity can vary between individuals with the same genotype, due to factors such as environmental influences and interactions with other genes.
Related Terms
- Genotype: The genetic makeup of an organism or cell.
- Phenotype: The observable characteristics or traits of an organism.
- Penetrance: The proportion of individuals with a particular genotype that actually displays the phenotype associated with the genotype.
- Mutation: A change in the DNA sequence of a gene.
- Environmental influences: Factors in an organism's environment that can affect its phenotype.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Expressivity (genetics)
- Wikipedia's article - Expressivity (genetics)
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