What is Polygene _ It’s Meaning and Definition A trait that is controlled by a group .
What is Polygene _ It’s Meaning and Definition A trait that is controlled by a group .
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Polygene – Meaning & Definition
A polygene is a gene that acts together with other genes to control a single trait, especially a quantitative trait (like height, skin color, or intelligence) that shows continuous variation in a population.
Definition:
A polygene is one of a group of non-allelic genes that collectively influence a single trait, with each gene contributing a small, additive effect.
Key Points:
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A trait controlled by a group of genes is called a polygenic trait.
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These traits do not follow Mendel’s simple laws of inheritance.
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The effect of each individual polygene is small, but cumulative.
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Environmental factors often influence the expression of polygenic traits.
Examples of Polygenic Traits:
| Trait | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Height | Controlled by multiple genes + environment |
| Skin color | Affected by many genes producing melanin |
| Weight | Influenced by genes + lifestyle |
| Eye color | Involves several genes interacting together |
| Intelligence | Polygenic + environmental input |
Polygene vs Single Gene (Monogenic) Traits
| Feature | Polygene | Monogenic |
|---|---|---|
| Genes Involved | Many genes (polygenes) | Single gene |
| Variation Type | Continuous (spectrum) | Discrete (categories) |
| Examples | Height, skin color, weight | Blood group, tongue rolling |
Summary:
Polygene = A gene that works with other genes to determine complex traits.
Trait controlled by polygenes = Polygenic Trait
Would you like:
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A diagram showing how polygenes affect traits?
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A short quiz or flashcard to test yourself?
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Difference between polygenic inheritance and multifactorial inheritance?
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