Epistasis results from the effects of an allele at

one gene masking the effects of another gene

The gene that does the masking is epistatic to the
other
gene

The gene that is masked is hypostatic to the other

gene

Epistasis can be recessive or dominant

• Recessive – epistatic gene must be homozygous recessive
(e.g. ee)
• Dominant – epistatic gene must have at least one dominant
allele present (e.g. E—) 1
 Epistasis
• This is where one gene masks or suppresses the expression of
another. They may work
• Antagonistically
• Complementary

Antagonistically :
• Crosses involving epistatic genes don’t result in the expected
phenotypic ratios (9:3:3:1)
• The ratio depends whether the epistatic allele is dominant or
recessive
 Recessive epistatic alleles (Ratio 9:3:4)
• If the epistatic allele is recessive then 2 copies will mask the
expression of the other gene.
TASK -Mouse coat colour is controlled by two pairs of alleles: B and C
B = black coat colour, b = brown coat colour
C = pigment production, c = no pigment production
Therefore, if a mouse has cc, it will be an albino, if it has Cc or CC it will
be black or brown.
Work out the F1 and F2 generation of the following cross
Black x albino
CCBB ccbb
Mouse coat colour is controlled by two pairs of alleles: B and C
B = black coat colour, b = brown coat colour
C = pigment production, c = no pigment production
Therefore, if a mouse has cc, it will be an albino, if it
has Cc or CC it will be black or brown.

Black
Mouse coat colour is controlled by two pairs of alleles: B and C
B = black coat colour, b = brown coat colour C = pigment production, c = no pigment production
Therefore, if a mouse has cc, it will be an albino, if it has Cc or CC it will be black or brown.

BbCc  BbCc
c/c “masks” B/-
Sperm therefore
⁄4 BC
1 1
⁄4 bC ⁄4 Bc
1
⁄4 bc
1
C is epistatic to B
Eggs
⁄4 BC
1
BBCC BbCC BBCc BbCc

⁄4 bC
1
BbCC bbCC BbCc bbCc

1
⁄4 Bc BBCc BbCc BBcc Bbcc

1
⁄4 bc BbCc bbCc Bbcc bbcc

⁄16
9
⁄16
3 ⁄16
4
Dominant Epistasis 13:3
In Leghorn chickens
Colored feathers are due to a dominant gene, C;
White feathers are due to its recessive allele, c.
CC= color
Cc= color
cc= white
Another dominant gene, I, inhibits expression of color while ii
allows expression of color
In birds with genotypes CC or Cc or cc if there is II or Ii the
birds are white!
Therefore both CCII, CcII, CCIi, CcIi and cc– are ALL white.
Only birds that are colored are C-ii
6
Dominant epistasis II in chickens
13:3 ratio in F2 progeny
of dihybrid crosses
indicates dominant
epistasis II

13/16 white (A— B—, aa B—,

aa bb)
3/16 colored (A— bb)

The dominant allele of one

gene masks the recessive
allele of another gene
Figure 3.15b

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Permission required to reproduce or display Hartwell et 7
al., 4th ed., Chapter 3
Phenotypic ratios
• Normal Dihybrid ratio 9:3:3:1

Epistatic ratios
• Antagonistic recessive - If the epistatic allele is recessive then 2 copies
will mask the expression of the other gene 9:3:4
• Antagonistic dominant -If the epistatic allele is dominant then 1
copies will mask the expression of the other gene 12:3:1 or 13:3
• Complementary epistasis – the dominant allele for both genes is
needed for the characteristic to be expressed 9:7
9