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Dec 20, 2023 · Genetic inheritance refers to the passing of traits from one generation to the next through chromosomes, which carry the genetic information in the form of DNA. Genes, located on chromosomes, play a crucial role in determining traits and characteristics.
- How Are Traits determined?
- How Are Traits Inherited?
- Dominant Traits vs. Recessive Traits
- Other Examples of Weird Inherited Traits
- Sources
Traits are determined by an individual's genotype, the summation of the genes in our DNA. A gene is a portion of a chromosome. A chromosome is composed of DNA and contains the genetic material for an organism. Humans have twenty-three pairs of chromosomes. Twenty-two of the pairs are called autosomes. Autosomes are typically very similar in males a...
How are traits passed from one generation to the next? This happens when gametes unite. When an egg is fertilized by a sperm, for each chromosome pair, we receive one chromosomefrom our father and one from our mother. For a particular trait, we receive what is known as an allelefrom our father and one allele from our mother. An allele is a differen...
When alleles are expressed via simple dominant versus recessive traits, the specific alleles inherited determine how the phenotype is expressed. When an individual has two dominant alleles, the phenotype is the dominant trait. Likewise, when an individual has one dominant allele and one recessive allele, the phenotype is still the dominant trait. W...
A longer second toe and attached earlobes are often cited as examples of a "weird trait" that follows the two dominant/recessive alleles forms of one gene inheritance. Again, however, evidence suggests that both attached earlobe and longer second toe inheritance are quite complex.
“Attached Earlobe: The Myth.” Myths of Human Genetics, udel.edu/~mcdonald/mythearlobe.html.“Observable Human Characteristics.” Nutrition & the Epigenome, learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/basics/observable/.- Regina Bailey
Jul 8, 2009 · Almost every human trait and disease has a genetic component, whether inherited or influenced by behavioral factors such as exercise. Genetic components can also modify the body’s response to environmental factors such as toxins.
- 2009/07/08
Dec 20, 2023 · Understanding genetic traits is important for many reasons. It can help us understand the causes of certain diseases and conditions, develop personalized medicine, and predict the likelihood of certain traits being passed down to future generations.
Most traits are influenced by multiple genes plus a context—a set of environmental factors. It can be tricky to tell what exactly makes a trait just from looking, but there are clues. Learn more in What Causes a Trait.
Traits like blood type, cleft chin, dimples, and widow’s peaks are all inherited in a fairly straight-forward, simple fashion. However, the inheritance of other traits is much more complex and harder to understand: these traits include height, skin color, and eye color.
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Jul 30, 2022 · Traits like blood type, cleft chin, dimples, and widow’s peaks are all inherited in a fairly straight-forward, simple fashion. However, the inheritance of other traits is much more complex and harder to understand: these traits include height, skin color, and eye color.
