Question

why do genes always occur in pairs?

Answer 1

Dear Student,

Genes exists in pairs as genes are situated on chromosomes and chromosomes like genes exists in pair too. All genes except the one present on sex chromosomes come in pairs. One gene comes from mother and the other from father. The genes work in pairs by synthesizing proteins. One allele of a gene may be dominant on the other allele. Suppose a gene is synthesizing an enzyme. When this gene has mutation on i.e. the recessive mutation no functional enzyme will be synthesized. However when only one gene in a pair is defective the functional product will be synthesized from normal gene. When a gene pair is functioning then both the genes will encode for a protein i.e. one required in a particular dosage.


Regards,