Height (tallness) in humans is a polygenic trait. Assume the following: There are 4 genes that determine height (Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd). Each dominant allele adds 2 inches of height to an individual. The height of the recessive individual (aa, bb, cc, dd) is 5 feet. What is the height of a person with the genotype (AA, Bb, cc, DD)?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The individual has 6 dominant alleles (2 from AA, 1 from Bb, and 2 from DD). Each dominant allele adds 2 inches, so 6 alleles add 12 inches to the base height of 5 feet (60 inches). 60 inches + 12 inches = 72 inches, which is 6 feet or 5 feet 12 inches, equivalent to 5?10².

Height (Tallness) in Humans Is a Polygenic Trait