Elaine's parents were both athletes in college as were her grandparents. Her parents have tried to convince her to participate in sports, and cannot understand why she has little interest. More specifically, they cannot understand why she is not more physically developed as a potential athlete since most members of the family are athletic. What term provides an explanation for this dilemma?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Elaine's parents and grandparents are all athletes, but she has little interest in sports and is not as physically developed as her family members. This suggests that genetics may play a role in athleticism, but it is not the only factor. Penetrance is the term that describes the extent to which a gene is expressed in an individual. In this case, Elaine may have inherited the genes for athleticism, but they may not be fully expressed in her.

Elaine's Parents Were Both Athletes in College as Were Her