What Are Multifactorial Traits?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Multifactorial inheritance is

when more than one factor causes a trait or health problem

, such as a birth defect or chronic illness. The main factor is genes. But the cause includes other factors that aren’t genes, such as: Nutrition. Lifestyle.

What is the difference between multifactorial and polygenic traits?

The terms of polygenic and multifactorial inheritance are sometimes used interchangeably. However, in the strict sense, polygenic refers to the sum total of many genes, whereas

multifactorial also includes the interaction of environmental and genetic determinants

.

What is an example of a multifactorial disorder?

Some common multifactorial disorders include

schizophrenia, diabetes, asthma, depression

, high blood pressure, Alzheimer’s, obesity, epilepsy, heart diseases, Hypothyroidism, club foot and even dandruff.

What is a Meristic trait?

A meristic (countable trait) can be

used to describe a particular species of fish, or used to identify an unknown species

. Meristic traits are often described in a shorthand notation called a meristic formula. … These characters are among the characters most commonly used for differentiation of species and populations.

What is an example of a multifactorial trait?

Examples of multifactorial traits and diseases include:

height, neural tube defects, and hip dysplasia

.

Is blood pressure a multifactorial trait?

Blood pressure in the general population approximately shows a normal distribution and is thought to be a

polygenic trait

. In rare cases, early-onset hypertension or hypotension are inherited as Mendelian traits.

How do you identify a polygenic trait?

A polygenic trait is

one whose phenotype is influenced by more than one gene

. Traits that display a continuous distribution, such as height or skin color, are polygenic.

What are the 3 types of genetic disorders?

  • Single-gene disorders, where a mutation affects one gene. Sickle cell anemia is an example.
  • Chromosomal disorders, where chromosomes (or parts of chromosomes) are missing or changed. …
  • Complex disorders, where there are mutations in two or more genes.

How do you inherit characteristics?

How we inherit characteristics. Parents pass on traits or characteristics, such as eye colour and blood type,

to their children through their genes

. Some health conditions and diseases can be passed on genetically too. Sometimes, one characteristic has many different forms.

What are the 5 patterns of inheritance?

There are five basic modes of inheritance for single-gene diseases:

autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, X-linked dominant, X-linked recessive, and mitochondrial

. Genetic heterogeneity is a common phenomenon with both single-gene diseases and complex multi-factorial diseases.

How do you explain multifactorial inheritance?

Multifactorial inheritance is

when more than one factor causes a trait or health problem

, such as a birth defect or chronic illness. The main factor is genes. But the cause includes other factors that aren’t genes, such as: Nutrition.

What is an example of Mendelian inheritance?

Examples include

sickle-cell anemia, Tay–Sachs disease, cystic fibrosis and xeroderma pigmentosa

. A disease controlled by a single gene contrasts with a multi-factorial disease, like heart disease, which is affected by several loci (and the environment) as well as those diseases inherited in a non-Mendelian fashion.

What are meristic traits examples?

Meristic traits are those in which the phenotypes are recorded by counting whole numbers. Examples of meristic traits include

the num- ber of seeds in a pod or the number of eggs laid by a chicken in a year

. These are quantitative traits, but they do not have an infinite range of phenotypes.

What is a qualitative trait?

A qualitative trait is

a trait that can be described as a category

. For example, black or red coat color, horned or polled, coat color dilution are all qualitative traits. … Usually, quantitative traits are polygenic meaning they are controlled by many genes and gene interactions.

What are examples of quantitative traits?

A quantitative trait is a measurable phenotype that depends on the cumulative actions of many genes and the environment. These traits can vary among individuals, over a range, to produce a continuous distribution of phenotypes. Examples include

height, weight and blood pressure

.

What type of trait is high blood pressure?

Hypertension (HTN) is quantitatively the major cardiovascular risk factor and responsible for ∼50% of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Blood pressure (BP) is also a

classical complex genetic trait

with heritability estimates of 30–50%.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.