Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Secondary Integrated Science Practice test

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Which of the following best describes polygenic characters?

Single alleles coding for multiple traits
Many alleles coding for a single phenotype
Traits influenced solely by environmental conditions
Products of sex-linked inheritance

The correct answer is: Many alleles coding for a single phenotype

Polygenic characters are best described as traits that are influenced by multiple genes, which means that many alleles contribute to a single phenotype. This process leads to a continuous range of variations in the trait, such as height or skin color in humans. Since several genes can interact to produce a single observable characteristic, polygenic inheritance results in a spectrum of phenotypes rather than discrete categories, making it a complex inheritance pattern. The other options do not accurately characterize polygenic traits. For example, while the first option mentions single alleles coding for multiple traits, this describes pleiotropy rather than polygenic inheritance, which involves many genes influencing one trait. The third option suggests traits influenced solely by environmental conditions, which overlooks the genetic component essential to polygenic traits. Lastly, sex-linked inheritance specifically refers to traits that are determined by genes located on sex chromosomes and does not encompass the broader definition of polygenic inheritance.