A trait controlled by many genes producing continuous variation, such as height and skin colour.
Many genes each add a small effect, so traits show a bell-shaped distribution. Environment (nutrition for height) adds more variation. Skin colour involves at least dozens of loci.
Such traits cannot be tracked by simple Mendelian ratios, and are analysed statistically.
A trait controlled by many genes producing continuous variation, such as height and skin colour.
Polygenic Inheritance is one of the 54 topics in Genetics. It is rated Intermediate, so it suits learners who already know the core vocabulary. Related topics in this area include Quantitative Trait Loci, Heritability, Genome-Wide Association Studies.
Human height has over 12,000 associated genetic variants.
Work through the Beginner topics in Genetics first, such as Heredity, Gene, Allele, then return to Polygenic Inheritance. Intermediate topics assume the Beginner vocabulary.
The closest topics to Polygenic Inheritance are Quantitative Trait Loci, Heritability, Genome-Wide Association Studies, Genotype and Phenotype. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Polygenic Inheritance. To practise the whole of Genetics, use the Genetics quiz.
Polygenic Inheritance: A trait controlled by many genes producing continuous variation, such as height and skin colour. Quantitative Trait Loci: Regions of the genome statistically associated with variation in continuous traits. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Quantitative Trait Loci and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Genetics quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.
Regions of the genome statistically associated with variation in continuous traits.
🧬 GeneticsThe proportion of phenotypic variation in a population attributable to genetic differences.
🧬 GeneticsScan many genomes for variants statistically linked to a trait or disease.
🧬 GeneticsGenotype is an organism's allele makeup; phenotype is its observable traits resulting from genes and environment.
🧬 Genetics