Polygenic inheritance involves?

Polygenic inheritance involves?

• A. Traits are influenced by more than one gene
• B. A single gene controls a trait
• C. Genes located on sex chromosomes only
• D. Traits are always inherited as discrete units

Answer: (A)

Polygenic inheritance happens when many genes contribute to a single trait. Each gene adds a small effect, and together they create a continuous range of phenotypes rather than just a few distinct categories. That’s why traits like height or skin color vary gradually across individuals, rather than being neatly split into separate groups. The overall trait can also be influenced by the environment, but the key idea is the cumulative effect of multiple genes across the genome. This differs from traits controlled by a single gene, which tend to show clear, discrete categories, and from inheritance limited to sex chromosomes.

Polygenic inheritance happens when many genes contribute to a single trait. Each gene adds a small effect, and together they create a continuous range of phenotypes rather than just a few distinct categories. That’s why traits like height or skin color vary gradually across individuals, rather than being neatly split into separate groups. The overall trait can also be influenced by the environment, but the key idea is the cumulative effect of multiple genes across the genome. This differs from traits controlled by a single gene, which tend to show clear, discrete categories, and from inheritance limited to sex chromosomes.