How do we assess environmental factors to determine if they impact the phenotype of a quantitatively inherited trait?
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 5a
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.
Can two individuals of moderate height produce offspring that are much taller or shorter than either parent? If so, how?

1
Understand the genetic basis of the problem: The height in humans is controlled by four loci (R, S, T, and 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 the sum of contributions from all alleles across these loci.
Determine the genetic makeup of the parents: Moderate height individuals would likely have a mix of additive, partially additive, and non-additive alleles. For example, each parent might have a genotype such as RrSsTtUu, where uppercase letters represent additive alleles and lowercase letters represent non-additive alleles. Partially additive alleles could be represented by heterozygous combinations (e.g., Rr).
Consider the possible gametes: Each parent can produce gametes with different combinations of alleles due to independent assortment during meiosis. For example, a parent with the genotype RrSsTtUu can produce gametes such as RS, Rs, rS, rs, etc., with various combinations of additive, partially additive, and non-additive alleles.
Analyze the offspring's potential genotypes: When the gametes from both parents combine, the offspring can inherit a wide range of allele combinations. Some offspring may inherit more additive alleles (e.g., RRSS), resulting in a much taller phenotype, while others may inherit fewer additive alleles (e.g., rrss), resulting in a much shorter phenotype.
Conclude the explanation: Yes, two individuals of moderate height can produce offspring that are much taller or shorter than either parent. This is due to the random assortment and combination of alleles during gamete formation and fertilization, which can lead to offspring with extreme combinations of additive and non-additive alleles.

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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's expression, while partially additive alleles contribute a lesser amount. In the context of height, additive alleles contribute two units, while partially additive alleles contribute one unit. This distinction is crucial for understanding how multiple alleles can combine to influence a continuous trait like height.
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Polygenic Inheritance
Height is a polygenic trait, meaning it is influenced by multiple genes (loci). In this case, the four loci R, S, T, and U work together to determine an individual's height. The cumulative effect of the alleles at these loci can lead to a wide range of phenotypic expressions, allowing for significant variation in height among offspring.
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Phenotypic Variation and Offspring Height
Phenotypic variation refers to the observable differences in traits among individuals, which can arise from the combination of alleles inherited from parents. Even if two moderate-height individuals have a limited range of additive alleles, their offspring can inherit different combinations of these alleles, potentially resulting in taller or shorter heights than either parent due to the additive effects of multiple loci.
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