Question

What is an example of a monogenic trait?

Answer 1

Monogenic trait:

1. The trait is produced by the effect of a single gene or an allele.
2. The monogenic trait also follows Mendelian inheritance.

An example of a monogenic trait is Sickle cell anemia:

1. It is an example of a monogenic trait, as this disorder is controlled by a single pair of alleles.
2. The autosomal recessive disorder caused a mutation in the sixth position of the beta-globin chain of heamoglobin in which valine is substituted by glutamine.
3. This substitution change leads to a change in the shape of Red blood cells i.e sickle-shaped and also reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of hemoglobin.
4. Sickle cell anemia in children is characterized by slow growth, and shortness of breath, and in adults, the affected person has jaundice, along with shortness of breath.