If you wanted to identify what proportion of trait variation is due to genetics, you would do what?
Table of contents
- 1. Introduction to Genetics51m
- 2. Mendel's Laws of Inheritance3h 37m
- 3. Extensions to Mendelian Inheritance2h 41m
- 4. Genetic Mapping and Linkage2h 28m
- 5. Genetics of Bacteria and Viruses1h 21m
- 6. Chromosomal Variation1h 48m
- 7. DNA and Chromosome Structure56m
- 8. DNA Replication1h 10m
- 9. Mitosis and Meiosis1h 34m
- 10. Transcription1h 0m
- 11. Translation58m
- 12. Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes1h 19m
- 13. Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes44m
- 14. Genetic Control of Development44m
- 15. Genomes and Genomics1h 50m
- 16. Transposable Elements47m
- 17. Mutation, Repair, and Recombination1h 6m
- 18. Molecular Genetic Tools19m
- 19. Cancer Genetics29m
- 20. Quantitative Genetics1h 26m
- 21. Population Genetics50m
- 22. Evolutionary Genetics29m
20. Quantitative Genetics
Analyzing Trait Variance
Problem 5b
Textbook Question
Height in humans depends on the additive action of genes. Assume that this trait is controlled by the four loci R, S, T, and U and that environmental effects are negligible. Instead of additive versus nonadditive alleles, assume that additive and partially additive alleles exist. Additive alleles contribute two units, and partially additive alleles contribute one unit to height.
If an individual with the minimum height specified by these genes marries an individual of intermediate or moderate height, will any of their children be taller than the tall parent? Why or why not?
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the genotypes and allele contributions for the four loci R, S, T, and U. Each locus can have alleles that contribute either 2 units (additive) or 1 unit (partially additive) to height.
Determine the minimum height genotype: this would be the individual having the alleles that contribute the least total units across all four loci. Calculate this minimum height by summing the contributions of the alleles at each locus.
Determine the intermediate (moderate) height genotype: this individual has a combination of alleles that results in a height value between the minimum and maximum possible. Calculate this height by summing the allele contributions at each locus.
Consider the possible genotypes of the children by combining alleles from both parents. Since alleles contribute additively or partially additively, the child's height is the sum of the contributions of the alleles inherited from each parent at all four loci.
Analyze whether any child can have a height greater than the tall parent by checking if the combination of alleles inherited can exceed the tall parent's total allele contribution. Because the minimum height parent has only low-contributing alleles, and the other parent is intermediate, the children cannot inherit more than the maximum alleles present in the tall parent, so no child will be taller than the tall parent.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Polygenic Inheritance
Polygenic inheritance refers to a trait controlled by multiple genes, each contributing additively to the phenotype. In this case, height is influenced by four loci (R, S, T, U), where the combined effect of alleles determines the overall height. This explains continuous variation in traits like height rather than discrete categories.
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Additive and Partially Additive Alleles
Additive alleles contribute a fixed amount to the trait value, while partially additive alleles contribute a smaller, intermediate amount. Here, additive alleles add two units to height, and partially additive alleles add one unit. Understanding these contributions helps predict offspring phenotypes based on parental genotypes.
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Genetic Potential and Phenotypic Limits
The maximum height an individual can achieve depends on the sum of allele contributions across all loci. If one parent has the minimum height genotype and the other an intermediate genotype, the children’s height will be limited by the highest possible allele combination inherited. This concept explains whether offspring can exceed the taller parent's height.
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