epistasis

Epistasis is a genetic interaction where the effect of one gene depends on the presence or absence of other genes. In simple terms, it's like certain genes working together or influencing each other's impact on traits or traits' expression. For example, a gene for flower color might only show its effect if another gene for pigment production is active. Epistasis helps explain why traits don't follow straightforward inheritance patterns and highlights the complex relationships within the genetic code that shape an organism's characteristics.