Question

When carrying out a complementation test / analysis (in genetics) why is it necessary to use cells of opposite mating types?

Answer 1

Complementation test, also known as cis-trans test, in genetics is used to determine whether two mutations associated with a specific phenotype represent two different forms of the same gene (alleles) or are variations of two different genes, that's whether the mutated genes are in same or different chromosomes.

For complementation test to be done we use cells of opposite mating types because during segregation of the chromosome, one chromosome is obtained from either parents and not from the same. So that the complementation effect can be observed.