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BIOL GEN 313 Vollbrecht Lhhoward 4.28.14 KEY
BIOL GEN 313 Vollbrecht Lhhoward 4.28.14 KEY
Define
1. Continuous variation: trait shows a continuous range of phenotype values that can not be
easily classified into distinct categories; varies quantitatively
2. Discontinuous variation: trait shows discrete and separable phenotype values; varies
qualitatively
3. Quantitative traits: result of polygenic inheritance (many genes) and frequently has both
genetic and environmental components
4. Qualitative traits: result of one gene usually has two distinct traits
6. Why might a trait controlled by a single gene act like a quantitative trait?
-environmental effects
Define:
7. Meristic traits: polygenic traits in which the phenotype is recorded by counting whole
numbers
8. Threshold traits:polygenic and often multifactorial but have a small number of discrete
phenotypic classes.
10. Variance: provides information about the spread of data around the mean
12. The measurements of a distribution with a higher ____ will be more spread out.
a. Mean
b. Variance
c. Standard deviation
d. Standard deviation and variance
14. Explain the relationship between a population and a sample. What characteristics should
a sample have to be representative of the population?
15. List all the components that contribute to the phenotypic variance and define each
component.
16. For each of the following characteristics, indicate whether it would be considered a
discontinuous or a quantitative characteristic. Justify your answer.
a. Kernel color in a strain of wheat in which two co-dominant alleles segregating at
a single locus determine the color. Thus, there are three phenotypes present in this
strain: White, light red, and medium red.
Discontinuous, because only a few distinct phenotypes are present and its
determined by alleles at a single locus.
b. Body weight in a family of Labrador retrievers. An autosomal recessive allele that
causes dwarfism is present in this family. Two phenotypes are recognized: dwarf
and normal.
Discontinuous because there are only two phenotypes and a single locus
c. Presence or absences of leprosy. Susceptibility to leprosy is determined by
multiple genes and numerous environmental factors.
Quantitative because susceptibility is a continuous trait determined by
multiple genes and environmental factors
d. Number of toes in guinea pigs, which is influences by genes at many loci.
Quantitative because it is determined by many loci (meristic)
e. Number of fingers in humans. Extra fingers are caused by the presences of an
autosomal dominant allele.
Discontinuous characteristic because only a few distinct phenotypes are
determined by alleles at a single locus
14
12
10
0
2 digits/foot 3 digits/foot 4 digits/foot 5 digits/foot 6 digits/foot
Series 3
4, 4, 4, 5, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 5, 4, 4, 3, 2, 4, 4, 5, 6, 4, 4, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5