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
3. Extensions to Mendelian Inheritance
Penetrance and Expressivity
Struggling with Genetics?
Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first videoMultiple Choice
Penetrance measures which of the following?
A
The degree to which an allele is expressed
B
The effect of two genes on a single trait
C
A single intermediate phenotype between dominant and recessive
D
The percentage of individuals with a given allele who exhibit the phenotype

1
Understand the concept of penetrance: Penetrance refers to the proportion of individuals carrying a particular variant of a gene (allele) that also express an associated trait or phenotype.
Recognize that penetrance is expressed as a percentage, indicating how many individuals with the allele show the phenotype.
Differentiate penetrance from expressivity, which measures the degree or intensity of the phenotype expressed in individuals.
Consider examples where penetrance might be incomplete, meaning not all individuals with the allele express the phenotype, which can be due to environmental factors, interactions with other genes, or random chance.
Apply this understanding to the problem: The correct answer is the percentage of individuals with a given allele who exhibit the phenotype, as this directly relates to the definition of penetrance.
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Related Practice
Open Question
In goats, the development of the beard is due to a recessive gene. The following cross involving true-breeding goats was made and carried to the F₂ generation:Offer an explanation for the inheritance and expression of this trait, diagramming the cross. Propose one or more crosses to test your hypothesis.
Penetrance and Expressivity practice set
