Question

How is pleiotropy different from polygenic inheritance?

(a) A single gene can exhibit multiple expressions

(b) A single gene exhibits only a single expression

(c) Two genes exhibit a single character

(d) Multiple genes control a single character

The question was asked in an interview.

I'd like to ask this question from Inheritance Principles topic in portion Principles of Inheritance and Variation of Biology – Class 12

Answer 1

The correct answer is (a) A single gene can exhibit multiple expressions

To explain I would say: Pleiotropy is different from polygenic inheritance due to the fact that a single gene can exhibit multiple phenotypic expressions whereas in polygenic inheritance multiple genes control a single character.