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Question

What do you call the inheritance pattern of skin colour in humans?

A
Monogenic inheritance
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B
Mendelian inheritance
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C
Polygenic or quantitative inheritance
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D
Codominance
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Solution

The correct option is C Polygenic or quantitative inheritance
Polygenic inheritance refers to the type of inheritance when one character is controlled by two or more genes. Hence, two or more genes are responsible for controlling the expression of a particular phenotype.

The production and accumulation of melanin is responsible for our skin colour. The expression of melanin is controlled by the cumulative effect of three different genes, represented by A, B and C. Hence, it is an example of polygenic inheritance. The genotype with homozygous dominant alleles for all three genes, represented by AABBCC produces dark (black) pigmentation while the genotype with homozygous recessive alleles for all three genes, represented by aabbcc produces light (white) pigmentation.

Monogenic inheritance is the inheritance pattern in which a particular trait is controlled by only one gene.
For example, The height of a pea plant is controlled by a single gene (alleles: T and t for tallness and dwarfness respectively) only.

Mendelian inheritance includes the inheritance of those characters that follow the laws of inheritance given by Gregor Mendel. These include the Law of Dominance, the Law of Segregation and the Law of Independent Assortment. Mendelian inheritance does not explain the interaction of several genes responsible for the determination of a single trait as in polygenic inheritance.

Codominance is the inheritance pattern where both alleles express themselves equally. There is no dominant or recessive allele. Both alleles express themselves in heterozygous condition. For example, Blood grouping in humans.

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