Quantitative Inheritance


Certain traits are influenced by many genes. However, they do not act like epistasis. All gene pairs are equal. In this case, each dominant allele of all the different genes contribute the same amount to the phenotype.

For example, a plant that has a height of 50 cm is crossed with a plant that is 20 cm. All of the offspring are in between these two plants. We know that 3 pairs of genes affect this trait.

What are the genotypes and phenotypes of the offspring?

AABBCC (50 cm)  X  aabbcc (20 cm)                   (Each dominant allele adds 5 cm)
Offspring:  AaBbCc = 35 cm


 

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