Lethal mutation
This is a mutaton that results in the demise of the organism affected [1]. An example of such a mutation can be observed in manx cats. Characterised by their lack of tails and longer hindlegs, manx cats carry a dominant allele (ML) that severely affects spinal development. All manx cats are heterozygotes; cats that are homozygote for the ML allele do not survive because the allele is recessive lethal.
References:
- ↑ Hartl, D. and Ruvolo, M. (2012). Genetics. Burlington, Mass: Jones & Bartlett, p.760.