Pleiotropic mutation is a term used to describe a genetic mutation that affects multiple traits or characteristics. There are several synonyms that can be used to refer to pleiotropic mutations, such as polygenic mutation or multifactorial mutation. These terms highlight the fact that these mutations are caused by multiple genes or factors and can have a significant impact on an organism's phenotype. Other related terms include pleiotropy, which refers to the phenomenon of a single gene affecting multiple traits, and gene-network perturbation, which describes how mutations can disrupt the complex interactions between genes that govern development and physiology. Understanding these concepts is essential for studying genetics and developing new treatments for genetic disorders.