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Understanding Polygenic Traits

Polygenic inheritance involves two or more genes influencing a single trait, such as height or skin color, which leads to continuous variation with many intermediate states rather than just two options. Skin color is influenced by at least 3 genes with 6 alleles, contributing to a range of skin colors in a defined curve. Height also involves multiple genes and has continuous variation affected by environmental factors.

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6K views4 pages

Understanding Polygenic Traits

Polygenic inheritance involves two or more genes influencing a single trait, such as height or skin color, which leads to continuous variation with many intermediate states rather than just two options. Skin color is influenced by at least 3 genes with 6 alleles, contributing to a range of skin colors in a defined curve. Height also involves multiple genes and has continuous variation affected by environmental factors.

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api-271661638
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Topic 10.

3 Polygenic Inheritance

Polygenic inheritance involves two or more genes influencing


the expression of a single trait.

Being influenced by multiple genes can lead to continuous


variation, which means there are many intermediate states (i.e.
not just black or white). Height is a good example.

10.3.1

Skin color involves at least 3 independent genes (6 alleles),


which contributes to a continuous variation in phenotypes.

Notice how there is a defined curve in the graph of skin


colors. This is what defines the continuous variation.

10.3.2

Height also involves the interaction of several genes and shows


a continuous variation in the population.

Factors such as height and skin color often show variation as a


result of environment factors (i.e. melanin production).

10.3.2

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