Question

Highlight the importance of studies of quantatives inheritance. Elaborate an example of inheritance of quantitative traits in humans.

Answer 1

Hi Friends,

◆ Quantitative inheritance -

• Quantitative inheritance is a genetic inheritance of a character controlled by multiple genes.
• These genes are called polygenes & this inheritance as polygenic inheritance.
• In this, additive effect of polygenes determines distinctive traits.
• For example, human skin color, height, intelligence, etc is inherited by quantitative inheritance.

# Skin colour in humans -

• Each dominant gene is responsible for synthesis of some fixed amount of melanin.
• Higher the no of domninant genes, more melanin is formed resulting in darker skin color.
• All dominant alleles result in pure black phenotype & all recessive alleles result in pure white phenotype.

Hope this helped..