The expression of a gene involved in making anthocyanin

Last updated: 7/8/2022

The expression of a gene involved in making anthocyanin (purple) pigment in pea flowers is controlled by a transcriptional activator. A point mutation in the gene encoding this protein results in a non-functional transcriptional activator, generating a loss-of-function allele. However, a heterozygote plant still makes purple flowers. Which statement below is TRUE? The allele generated by the point mutation will be recessive to the wild-type allele. One wild-type copy is not enough. The mutant allele produces a blended trait. The allele generated by the point mutation will be dominant over the wild-type allele. You always need both alleles for a pea plant to have purple flowers.