If you wanted to identify what proportion of trait variation is due to genetics, you would do what?
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
Analyzing Trait Variance
Problem 5b
Textbook Question
Height in humans depends on the additive action of genes. Assume that this trait is controlled by the four loci R, S, T, and U and that environmental effects are negligible. Instead of additive versus nonadditive alleles, assume that additive and partially additive alleles exist. Additive alleles contribute two units, and partially additive alleles contribute one unit to height.
If an individual with the minimum height specified by these genes marries an individual of intermediate or moderate height, will any of their children be taller than the tall parent? Why or why not?

1
Understand the genetic basis of the problem: The height in humans is controlled by four loci (R, S, T, U), and each locus can have additive alleles (contributing 2 units), partially additive alleles (contributing 1 unit), or non-additive alleles (contributing 0 units). The total height is determined by summing the contributions of all alleles across these loci.
Determine the minimum height: The minimum height occurs when all alleles at the four loci are non-additive (0 units). Since there are 4 loci and each locus has 2 alleles, the total contribution to height in this case is 0 units.
Determine the intermediate height: An individual with intermediate height would have a combination of additive and partially additive alleles. For example, if half of the alleles are partially additive (1 unit) and the other half are non-additive (0 units), the total contribution to height would be calculated as the sum of these contributions.
Analyze the offspring's potential genotypes: When the minimum-height individual (all non-additive alleles) mates with the intermediate-height individual, the offspring can inherit alleles from both parents. The offspring's height will depend on the combination of alleles inherited. Use a Punnett square or probability rules to determine the range of possible allele combinations in the offspring.
Compare the offspring's maximum potential height to the taller parent's height: Calculate the maximum possible contribution to height from the offspring's alleles and compare it to the height of the intermediate-height parent. This will help determine whether any offspring can exceed the taller parent's height.

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Additive and Partially Additive Alleles
Additive alleles contribute a fixed amount to a trait, in this case, height, while partially additive alleles contribute a lesser amount. In the scenario described, additive alleles contribute two units to height, while partially additive alleles contribute one unit. Understanding these contributions is crucial for predicting the potential height of offspring based on the genetic makeup of the parents.
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Genetic Loci and Trait Inheritance
Traits like height are often influenced by multiple genetic loci, which are specific locations on chromosomes where genes reside. In this case, four loci (R, S, T, and U) are involved in determining height. The combination of alleles at these loci from both parents will dictate the height of their children, making it essential to consider the alleles inherited from each parent.
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Height Prediction in Offspring
To predict the height of offspring, one must consider the genetic contributions from both parents. If one parent has the minimum height and the other has an intermediate height, the maximum potential height of their children will be limited by the genetic contributions of the shorter parent. Therefore, it is unlikely that any child will exceed the height of the taller parent, as the genetic contributions from the shorter parent will restrict the maximum height achievable.
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