Final answer:
The correct option is that quantitative traits involve more genes, follow non-Mendelian inheritance, and are highly influenced by the environment. This reflects the complex inheritance patterns of polygenic traits as well as the significant role that environmental factors play in their expression.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question involves understanding the differences between qualitative and quantitative traits in terms of the number of involved genes, inheritance patterns, and the role of the environment. Qualitative traits are typically influenced by a few genes, follow Mendelian inheritance patterns, such as complete dominance, where one allele completely masks the effect of the other, and they are usually less influenced by the environment. In contrast, quantitative traits often involve multiple genes, also known as polygenic inheritance, which does not strictly follow Mendelian inheritance, and these traits can be greatly influenced by environmental factors, showing a continuous range of variation, like height or weight.
The correct option is (b): Quantitative traits involve more genes, follow non-Mendelian inheritance, and are highly influenced by the environment. This aligns with the understanding of polygenic traits and their complexity due to the involvement of multiple genes and environmental influences, which often leads to a continuous spectrum of phenotypic expression.