QUANTITATIVE INHERITANCE / TRAITS / CHARACTERS

Quantitative inheritance is the inheritance of a character (known as a quantitative

character or quantitative trait) that depends upon the cumulative action of many
genes and gene interactions, each of which produces only a small effect. There is
no dominance.
 Simply, Quantitative inheritance refers to a trait that is determined by more
than one gene called polygenes. These characters are controlled by many
genes (cumulative genes or multiple factors or polygenes -a term coined by
Mather).
• Quantitative inheritance is also known as Polygenic or multifactorial (Multiple
factor inheritance) or complex trait.
. Some characters of quantitative traits include Skin colour in human, Eye colour in
human, Height, Weight, intelligence etc. in man; egg production in poultry; milk
production in cow, yield of crops (fruits, seeds) etc.
 Quantitative characters (metric traits) are measurable or can be quantified by
measuring, weighing, counting, and so on.
• The character, usually, do not show clear cut differences and show continuous
variation (i.e. a gradation from one extreme to the other). That is, there are many
intermediate types between the parental traits.
- Continuous variation was first reported by Joseph Kolreuter (1760) with
regard to the height of aTobacco plants.
- The continuous variation in quantitative traits results from the combined
effects of genetic and environmental variations. Neither factor governs the
variation exclusively.
- Due to this, it is also called as multifactorial or complex trait.
• Polygenes are non-allelic and each gene has a small and similar effect and the
effect of several such genes are additive or cumulative. (There exist only pairs of
contributing and non- contributing alleles.)
- The net effect on the trait will depend upon the number of contributing
alleles or effective alleles present.
• Conversely, quantitative traits are traits with phenotypes that can be measured
numerically. Analysis of quantitative traits can be done by statistical methods.
Qualitative inheritance is an inheritance of a character that differs markedly in its
expression among individuals of a species;
 Variation in that species is discontinuous; there is a distinct line of
separation between one group and another. E.g.: ABO blood group.
 Such characters are usually under the control of major genes.
 The traits are frequently controlled by one or just a few genes meaning they
are simply-inherited traits.

Meaning of some terms encountered.

 Monogenic traits are determined by the different alleles of a single gene
while Polygenetic (polygenic) traits may display a range of possible
phenotypes, determined by a number of different genes and the interactions
between them.
 Contributing alleles are alleles that contributed to the continuous variation
while non- contributing alleles do not contribute to contribution of
continuous variation. The contribution to the phenotype of each additive
allele, though often small, is approximately equal.
 Discontinuous variation is a variation where there is a distinct line of
separation; while Continuous variation is a variation where there are many
intermediate types between the parental traits.

Difference between qualitative & quantitative traits

Qualitative traits/ Inheritance Quantitative traits/Inheritance

1. Non- measurable.
2. Monogenic - controlled by a
single gene. Its effect is
distinguishable
3. Characters show
discontinuous variation since
Measurable - can be statistically
analysed
Polygenic - controlled by many
genes. Each gene has a small, but
similar effect and the net effect is due
to the additive or cumulative effect of
all the genes. So, single gene effect is
indistinguishable.
Characters show continuous variation
- show many intermediate types. Do
 there is a distinct line of not form distinct phenotypic classes.
separation between one group e.g. Grain yield, fibre yield; height,
and another and form distinct weight, skin colour, intelligence etc.
phenotypic classes. e.g. in humans.
Flower colour, seed shape etc.
4. Not influenced /susceptible to
Quantitative traits are modified by
environmental modifications environmental factors.
5. There is dominance -recessiveThere is no dominance. There exist
relationship. only pairs of contributing and non-
contributing alleles.
6. Epistasis (dominance) may be No epistasis (no dominance).
present
7. There may be linkage. No linkage.