When genes at many loci affect a character,
A) the trait is more likely to occur in a smooth distribution.
B) natural selection cannot act on the character.
C) the environment is less likely to affect the character.
D) both a and c are correct.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When genes at many loci affect a character, the trait is more likely to occur in a smooth distribution, which means that the phenotype will vary continuously within a population rather than being restricted to a few distinct forms. This is because the influence of each gene is relatively small, so the combined effect of multiple genes results in a quantitative trait. Natural selection can still act on the character, and the environment may also affect the character.

When Genes at Many Loci Affect a Character