Table of contents
- 1. Introduction to Genetics51m
- 2. Mendel's Laws of Inheritance3h 37m
- 3. Extensions to Mendelian Inheritance2h 41m
- 4. Genetic Mapping and Linkage2h 28m
- 5. Genetics of Bacteria and Viruses1h 21m
- 6. Chromosomal Variation1h 48m
- 7. DNA and Chromosome Structure56m
- 8. DNA Replication1h 10m
- 9. Mitosis and Meiosis1h 34m
- 10. Transcription1h 0m
- 11. Translation58m
- 12. Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes1h 19m
- 13. Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes44m
- 14. Genetic Control of Development44m
- 15. Genomes and Genomics1h 50m
- 16. Transposable Elements47m
- 17. Mutation, Repair, and Recombination1h 6m
- 18. Molecular Genetic Tools19m
- 19. Cancer Genetics29m
- 20. Quantitative Genetics1h 26m
- 21. Population Genetics50m
- 22. Evolutionary Genetics29m
20. Quantitative Genetics
Heritability
Problem 1e
Textbook Question
How do we know that monozygotic twins are not identical genotypically as adults?

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Understand the concept of monozygotic twins: Monozygotic twins originate from a single fertilized egg that splits into two embryos, meaning they initially share the same genetic makeup. However, environmental factors and epigenetic changes can lead to differences as they develop.
Learn about epigenetic modifications: Epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation and histone modification, can alter gene expression without changing the underlying DNA sequence. These modifications can occur due to environmental influences, lifestyle, or random biological processes.
Consider somatic mutations: Somatic mutations are changes in the DNA that occur in individual cells during a person's lifetime. These mutations can accumulate in different tissues and cells, leading to genetic differences between monozygotic twins as adults.
Explore gene expression variability: Even with identical DNA sequences, the expression of genes can vary due to differences in regulatory mechanisms, environmental exposures, and stochastic (random) processes, contributing to phenotypic differences between twins.
Review studies on twin genetics: Geneticists have conducted studies comparing monozygotic twins to understand the role of environmental and epigenetic factors. These studies often reveal that while twins are genetically similar, they are not identical genotypically as adults due to the factors mentioned above.

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Monozygotic Twins
Monozygotic twins, or identical twins, originate from a single fertilized egg that splits into two embryos. While they share the same genetic material at conception, environmental factors and epigenetic changes can lead to differences in gene expression as they develop. This means that, despite their identical DNA, they may not be phenotypically or genotypically identical as adults.
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Epigenetics
Epigenetics refers to the study of changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the underlying DNA sequence. Factors such as environmental influences, lifestyle, and experiences can lead to epigenetic modifications, which can affect how genes are turned on or off. These changes can result in phenotypic differences between monozygotic twins, highlighting that genetics is not the sole determinant of an individual's traits.
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Quantitative Traits
Quantitative traits are characteristics that are influenced by multiple genes and environmental factors, resulting in a continuous range of phenotypes. Examples include height, weight, and skin color. Understanding quantitative genetics involves statistical methods to analyze the heritability and variation of these traits, which can help explain why even genetically identical individuals may exhibit differences in these characteristics.
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Related Practice
Multiple Choice
Which of the following calculations would you use to estimate the heritability (broad-sense, H^2) of metal tolerance in a population of sunstalks?
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