Which inheritance pattern would explain height variation most?

Which inheritance pattern would explain height variation most?

• A. Polygenic inheritance
• B. Sex-linked inheritance
• C. Codominant inheritance
• D. Monogenic recessive inheritance

Answer: (A)

Height variation in humans is explained by polygenic inheritance: many genes, each with a small effect, combine to determine stature. Each gene adds a little to or subtracts from overall height, and the cumulative effect across numerous loci creates a continuous range of heights rather than discrete categories. Environmental factors like nutrition, health during development, and hormonal influences also shape the final height, superimposing variation on the genetic baseline. This pattern leads to the bell-shaped distribution often observed for height in populations. In contrast, single-gene patterns—whether codominant, monogenic recessive, or sex-linked—tend to produce discrete classes or sex-specific patterns that don’t account for the broad, continuous variation seen with height.

Height variation in humans is explained by polygenic inheritance: many genes, each with a small effect, combine to determine stature. Each gene adds a little to or subtracts from overall height, and the cumulative effect across numerous loci creates a continuous range of heights rather than discrete categories. Environmental factors like nutrition, health during development, and hormonal influences also shape the final height, superimposing variation on the genetic baseline. This pattern leads to the bell-shaped distribution often observed for height in populations. In contrast, single-gene patterns—whether codominant, monogenic recessive, or sex-linked—tend to produce discrete classes or sex-specific patterns that don’t account for the broad, continuous variation seen with height.