Which one of the following is an example of polygenic inheritance?
- Skin colour in humans
- Pod shape in garden pea
- Production of male honey bee
- Flower colour in Mirabilis jalapa
Answer
(1) Skin colour in humans
Solution
As per NCERT, polygenic traits are controlled by three or more genes, and the effect of each allele is additive; human skin colour is the classic example.
⇒ Pod shape in garden pea is a monogenic Mendelian trait.
⇒ A male honey bee develops from an unfertilised egg (haplodiploid sex determination).
⇒ Flower colour in Mirabilis jalapa (dog flower) shows incomplete dominance.
∴ Skin colour in humans is an example of polygenic inheritance.
Answer: (1)