Textbook Question
Which of the following traits would you expect to be inherited as quantitative traits?
Growth rate in sheep
Ch. 19 - Genetic Analysis of Quantitative Traits
Sanders3rd EditionGenetic Analysis: An Integrated ApproachISBN: 9780135564172
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - The Molecular Basis of Heredity, Variation, and Evolution64
- Ch. 2 - Transmission Genetics144
- Ch. 3 - Cell Division and Chromosome Heredity81
- Ch. 4 - Gene Interaction87
- Ch. 5 - Genetic Linkage and Mapping in Eukaryotes103
- Ch. 6 - Genetic Analysis and Mapping in Bacteria and Bacteriophages73
- Ch. 7 - DNA Structure and Replication71
- Ch. 8 - Molecular Biology of Transcription and RNA Processing79
- Ch. 9 - The Molecular Biology of Translation110
- Ch. 10 - Eukaryotic Chromosome Abnormalities and Molecular Organization100
- Ch. 11 - Gene Mutation, DNA Repair, and Homologous Recombination86
- Ch. 12 - Regulation of Gene Expression in Bacteria and Bacteriophage90
- Ch. 13 - Regulation of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes38
- Ch. 14 - Analysis of Gene Function via Forward Genetics and Reverse Genetics72
- Ch. 15 - Recombinant DNA Technology and Its Applications69
- Ch. 16 - Genomics: Genetics from a Whole-Genome Perspective49
- Ch. 17 - Organelle Inheritance and the Evolution of Organelle Genomes27
- Ch. 18 - Developmental Genetics43
- Ch. 19 - Genetic Analysis of Quantitative Traits66
- Ch. 20 - Population Genetics and Evolution at the Population, Species, and Molecular Levels105
Sanders3rd EditionGenetic Analysis: An Integrated ApproachISBN: 9780135564172Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 19, Problem 1a
Which of the following traits would you expect to be inherited as quantitative traits?
Body weight in chickens
Verified step by step guidance1
Quantitative traits are traits that are influenced by multiple genes (polygenic inheritance) and often show continuous variation in a population, such as height, weight, or skin color.
Body weight in chickens is an example of a trait that is influenced by multiple genetic factors as well as environmental factors, making it a quantitative trait.
To determine if a trait is quantitative, consider whether it shows a range of phenotypes (e.g., a spectrum of body weights) rather than discrete categories (e.g., presence or absence of a trait).
Quantitative traits are typically analyzed using statistical methods, such as calculating the mean and variance of the trait in a population, to understand the genetic and environmental contributions.
In conclusion, body weight in chickens is expected to be inherited as a quantitative trait because it is influenced by multiple genes and environmental factors, resulting in continuous variation.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Quantitative Traits
Quantitative traits are characteristics that are influenced by multiple genes and can be measured on a continuous scale. Unlike qualitative traits, which are typically categorized into distinct groups, quantitative traits exhibit a range of phenotypes, such as height or weight. These traits are often affected by environmental factors as well, making them complex to analyze.
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Polygenic Inheritance
Polygenic inheritance refers to the phenomenon where multiple genes contribute to a single trait. Each gene may have a small additive effect on the phenotype, leading to a continuous distribution of traits in a population. For example, body weight in chickens is influenced by several genes, resulting in a range of weights rather than a few distinct categories.
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Heritability
Heritability is a measure of how much of the variation in a trait can be attributed to genetic differences among individuals in a population. It is expressed as a proportion, ranging from 0 to 1, where higher values indicate a greater genetic influence. Understanding heritability is crucial for predicting how traits like body weight in chickens may respond to selective breeding.
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