Final answer:
The pattern where one gene influences multiple traits is called pleiotropy. This stands in contrast to polygenic inheritance, where multiple genes determine a single trait.
Step-by-step explanation:
The pattern where one gene affects many traits is known as pleiotropy. Unlike polygenic inheritance, where multiple genes influence a single trait, pleiotropy involves one gene conveying multiple phenotypic effects. An example of pleiotropy is the sickle-cell gene that causes various symptoms apart from sickle-cell anemia, like resistance to malaria. Such single-gene multiple effect scenarios represent a complex interplay in our genetic makeup, illustrating how genetics isn't always straightforward as one gene, one trait—the concept initially thought by Gregor Mendel when analyzing traits in pea plants.
Pleiotropy could involve various biological processes, leading to multiple expressions of traits, which can sometimes complicate our understanding of inheritance and genetic diseases. It also demonstrates the interconnectedness of our biological systems, as one alteration can cascade into various manifestations.