If Gregor Mendel Had Studied a Polygenic Trait That Did

question 18

Essay

If Gregor Mendel had studied a polygenic trait that did not follow the straightforward single-gene,single-phenotype pattern,do you believe he would have been able to describe how genes are passed from parents to offspring? Justify your answer.

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Definitions:

Mutations

Alterations in the DNA sequence that can lead to changes in the structure and function of proteins produced by genes.

Sexual Reproduction

A biological process where organisms reproduce by combining genetic material from two different cells, typically involving male and female gametes.

Darwinʼs Theory

The scientific theory of biological evolution by natural selection, proposed by Charles Darwin, explaining how species evolve over generations through inherited variations.

Descended

Having a lower position or moving downward; in biology, it can refer to the process of an organ or species originating from a common ancestor.