Question

skin color, fur color, and height are examples of which inheritance pattern?
○ mendelian inheritance
○ incomplete dominance
○ codominance
○ polygenic inheritance

Explanation:

1. Mendelian inheritance: Follows simple dominant - recessive rules with discrete traits (e.g., pea plant traits like flower color), but skin color, fur color, and height are continuous or show a range of phenotypes, so not Mendelian.
2. Incomplete dominance: Results in a blend of two alleles (e.g., pink flowers from red and white parents), not related to the polygenic nature of skin color, fur color, and height.
3. Codominance: Both alleles are expressed equally (e.g., AB blood type), which is not the case for the traits in question.
4. Polygenic inheritance: Traits are controlled by multiple genes, leading to a continuous range of phenotypes. Skin color, fur color, and height are all traits influenced by multiple genes, showing a spectrum of variations (e.g., different shades of skin color, a range of heights), so they are examples of polygenic inheritance.

Answer:

D. polygenic inheritance