Question

In the early part of the twentieth century, Nilsson-Ehle and others described experiments showing that multiple loci may be involved in the inheritance of certain traits. Such patterns are often called ________.

Answer 1

The inheritance pattern described by Nilsson-Ehle and others that involves multiple loci affecting a single trait is known as polygenic inheritance. This type of inheritance results in a wide range of phenotypic expressions and is crucial for understanding complex human traits.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the early part of the twentieth century, Nilsson-Ehle and others described experiments showing that multiple loci may be involved in the inheritance of certain traits. Such patterns are often called polygenic inheritance.

Polygenic inheritance refers to the kind of inheritance pattern where several genes (loci) influence a single trait.

Unlike Mendelian inheritance where traits are determined by a single gene, polygenic traits are controlled by two or more genes which can result in a wide range of phenotypic expressions. Examples include human characteristics like height, skin color, and eye color.

It contrasts with single-gene (Mendelian) traits and is an essential concept for understanding human genetics where most traits are the result of multiple genes working together. Human genetics focuses on identifying different alleles and understanding how they express themselves, particularly in the identification of inheritance patterns for genetic disorders.