Question

pietro has two dogs that are related, and he wants to understand why one of the dogs has tan fur and the other has brown fur.

which pattern of inheritance would explain the different fur color in the related dogs?

○ polygenic inheritance
○ codominance
○ incomplete dominance
○ quantitative inheritance

Explanation:

To determine the correct inheritance pattern, we analyze each option:

• Polygenic inheritance: Traits (like fur color in dogs) controlled by multiple genes, resulting in continuous variation or distinct phenotypes (tan vs. brown). This fits as fur color is often polygenic.
• Codominance: Both alleles are fully expressed (e.g., AB blood type), not typical for simple fur color differences between two related dogs.
• Incomplete dominance: Phenotype is a blend (e.g., pink flowers from red and white), not matching distinct tan and brown.
• Quantitative inheritance: Related to polygenic but focuses on continuous variation (e.g., height), while fur color here can be distinct polygenic phenotypes.

Polygenic inheritance is the most likely as fur color in dogs is a classic polygenic trait with multiple genes influencing it, leading to different phenotypes (tan, brown) in related individuals.

Answer:

A. polygenic inheritance