Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Epistasis Analysis01:09

Epistasis Analysis

Although Mendel chose seven unrelated traits in peas to study gene segregation, most traits involve multiple gene interactions that create a spectrum of phenotypes. When the interaction of various genes or alleles at different locations influences a phenotype, this is called epistasis. Epistasis often involves one gene masking or interfering with the expression of another (antagonistic epistasis). Epistasis often occurs when different genes are part of the same biochemical pathway. The...
Combined Effects of Drugs: Synergism01:27

Combined Effects of Drugs: Synergism

Synergism is a useful mechanism where combining two or more drugs is more effective than each constituent used alone. Such combinations are also called supra-additive interactions. The drugs collectively enhance the final therapeutic effect by acting on different targets. Another advantage is that the low dose of each constituent drug is sufficient to achieve the desired effect. This helps reduce the duration of therapy and lower the adverse effects of these drugs.
Such synergistic combinations...
Hardy-Weinberg Principle01:49

Hardy-Weinberg Principle

Diploid organisms have two alleles of each gene, one from each parent, in their somatic cells. Therefore, each individual contributes two alleles to the gene pool of the population. The gene pool of a population is the sum of every allele of all genes within that population and has some degree of variation. Genetic variation is typically expressed as a relative frequency, which is the percentage of the total population that has a given allele, genotype or phenotype.In the early 20th century,...
Epistasis01:39

Epistasis

In addition to multiple alleles at the same locus influencing traits, numerous genes or alleles at different locations may interact and influence phenotypes in a phenomenon called epistasis. For example, rabbit fur can be black or brown depending on whether the animal is homozygous dominant or heterozygous at a TYRP1 locus. However, if the rabbit is also homozygous recessive at a locus on the tyrosinase gene (TYR), it will have an unshaded coat that appears white, regardless of its TYRP1...
Synteny and Evolution02:31

Synteny and Evolution

John H. Renwick first coined the term “synteny” in 1971, which refers to the genes present on the same chromosomes, even if they are not genetically linked. The species with common ancestry tend to show conserved syntenic regions. Therefore, the concept of synteny is nowadays used to describe the evolutionary relationship between species.
Around 80 million years ago, the human and mice lineages diverged from the common ancestor. During the course of evolution, the ancestral chromosome underwent...
Agonism and Antagonism: Quantification01:14

Agonism and Antagonism: Quantification

When drugs are administered, they can elicit either an agonist or antagonist effect on the body. Agonism occurs when a drug activates a specific receptor, triggering a biological response. On the other hand, antagonism happens when a drug binds to the same receptors but blocks their activation, thereby preventing a biological response.
To quantify these effects, researchers use a dose-response curve, which provides valuable information about the potency and efficacy of a drug. Potency refers to...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Bilateral symmetry genes: If they exist, how would we know?

Trends in plant science·2026
Same author

Role of the tomato MARS1/ROUGH gene encoding a LYSINE-SPECIFIC HISTONE DEMETHYLASE 1 in adventitious root and fruit skin formation.

Journal of integrative plant biology·2026
Same author

Light and Shadows: Insights from Large-Scale Visual Screens for Arabidopsis Leaf Morphology Mutants.

International journal of molecular sciences·2025
Same author

The KH-domain genes FLK and HOS5 integrate flowering and stress responses in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Journal of experimental botany·2025
Same author

Transcriptional Profiling to Assess the Effects of Biological Stimulant Atlanticell Micomix on Tomato Seedlings Under Salt Stress.

Plants (Basel, Switzerland)·2025
Same author

A systematic review to identify target genes that modulate root system architecture in response to abiotic stress.

Scientific reports·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2026

A Deep-sequencing-assisted, Spontaneous Suppressor Screen in the Fission Yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe
07:55

A Deep-sequencing-assisted, Spontaneous Suppressor Screen in the Fission Yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Published on: March 7, 2019

Understanding synergy in genetic interactions.

José Manuel Pérez-Pérez1, Héctor Candela, José Luis Micol

  • 1División de Genética and Instituto de Bioingeniería, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Campus de Elche, 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain.

Trends in Genetics : TIG
|August 12, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Synergistic gene interactions occur when double mutants show greater effects than expected. This often happens with functionally related genes, revealing insights into genetic redundancy and network topology.

More Related Videos

High-throughput Identification of Synergistic Drug Combinations by the Overlap2 Method
07:51

High-throughput Identification of Synergistic Drug Combinations by the Overlap2 Method

Published on: May 21, 2018

Mapping Bacterial Functional Networks and Pathways in Escherichia Coli using Synthetic Genetic Arrays
14:06

Mapping Bacterial Functional Networks and Pathways in Escherichia Coli using Synthetic Genetic Arrays

Published on: November 12, 2012

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 21, 2026

A Deep-sequencing-assisted, Spontaneous Suppressor Screen in the Fission Yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe
07:55

A Deep-sequencing-assisted, Spontaneous Suppressor Screen in the Fission Yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Published on: March 7, 2019

High-throughput Identification of Synergistic Drug Combinations by the Overlap2 Method
07:51

High-throughput Identification of Synergistic Drug Combinations by the Overlap2 Method

Published on: May 21, 2018

Mapping Bacterial Functional Networks and Pathways in Escherichia Coli using Synthetic Genetic Arrays
14:06

Mapping Bacterial Functional Networks and Pathways in Escherichia Coli using Synthetic Genetic Arrays

Published on: November 12, 2012

Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Systems Biology

Background:

  • Synergy in genetics is defined as a phenotype in double mutants exceeding the additive effects of individual mutations.
  • Understanding synergistic interactions is crucial for deciphering complex genetic networks and gene function.
  • Arabidopsis thaliana serves as a model organism for studying these genetic phenomena.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying synergistic phenotypes in genetic interactions.
  • To elucidate the roles of functional redundancy and network topology in synergy.
  • To provide a framework for understanding how mutations in related and unrelated genes can lead to synergistic effects.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of double mutant phenotypes against single mutant effects.
  • Investigation of homologous loci interactions and functional redundancy.
  • Examination of non-homologous gene interactions within regulatory and metabolic networks.
  • Focus on the role of hub genes in mediating synergistic interactions.

Main Results:

  • Synergy frequently arises from mutations in functionally related genes, often involving homologous loci.
  • Functional redundancy and haploinsufficiency can combine to produce synergistic effects in specific multiple mutant contexts.
  • Synergy involving non-homologous genes is linked to the disruption of convergent pathways in regulatory or metabolic networks.
  • Hub genes, with numerous connections, exemplify how mutations can impact multiple pathways synergistically.

Conclusions:

  • Synergistic genetic interactions provide critical insights into gene function, redundancy, and network organization.
  • The study highlights distinct mechanisms for synergy involving homologous versus non-homologous genes.
  • Understanding these interactions is key to predicting complex trait development and gene function in biological systems.