Difference Between Monogenic and Polygenic

Inheritance
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Key Difference – Monogenic vs Polygenic Inheritance

Inheritance is the process where genetic information is transferred from
the parent to offspring. The information that is transferred is stored
in genes, which are Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid (DNA)fragments that codes
for specific proteins that are functional and could be transferred. Each
gene consists of a pair of alleles that determine the character and as
Mendelian Genetics suggests, these alleles independently segregate during
the formation of gametes to give rise to a particular character. Thus, the
key difference monogenic and polygenic inheritance lies in the number of
genes involved in the determination of a particular character. In
monogenic inheritance, one trait is determined by a single gene
whereas, in polygenic inheritance, one trait is determined by two or
more genes.

What is Monogenic Inheritance?

Monogenic inheritance of organisms is a process where a character is determined by
a single gene which is transferred from parent to offspring. The two alleles of this
gene are located in the same locus. This inheritance pattern portrays discontinuous
variations in characters and is also referred as the qualitative inheritance.
Figure 01: Monogenic Inheritance – A single X gene is mutated which results in Hemophilic individuals (men) after genetic
transfer.

Monogenic inheritance patterns are associated with sex linked genetic disorders such
as Hemophilia and in certain visible traits such as the size of ear lobes (large or
small), the texture of ear wax (dry or sticky) and the ability or inability to roll the
tongue.

What is Polygenic Inheritance?

Polygenic Inheritance is a deviation of Mendelian Inheritance where a single
character is determined by two or more genes. These two genes can be located in two
or more loci. This pattern of inheritance is referred to as quantitative
inheritance and show a continuous variation of a particular character. This pattern of
inheritance is contradictory to the patterns discovered and proved by Gregor Mendel,
father of Genetics and thus is known as a non-mendelian inheritance.

Examples of such quantitative traits or characteristics in humans or animals of high

order are height, weight, intelligence and that of plants include size, shape, and color
of plants. In polygenic inheritance patterns, the characters do not show clear cut
differences unlike in monogenic inheritance patterns. They portray a combination of
the character inherited from both parents.
 Figure 02: Polygenic inheritance in grain colour of wheat

What are the similarities between Monogenic and Polygenic

Inheritance?
 Both patterns give rise to a phenotypic character or a trait which consists of its
own variations.
 Mutations in the genes can give rise to genetic disorders.

What is the difference between Monogenic and Polygenic

Inheritance?
Monogenic vs Polygenic Inheritance
Monogenic inheritance is an Polygenic inheritance is an inheritance
inheritance pattern which pattern which determines a particular
 determines a particular trait by one trait by more than one set of alleles or
set of alleles or a specific gene. more than one gene.
Number of Genes Involved
Only one gene is involved in Two or more genes are involved in
determining the character in determining a single character in
monogenic inheritance. polygenic inheritance.
Location of Alleles
The alleles are located in the same The alleles of different genes are
locus. located in different loci.
Resultant Phenotype
The resultant phenotype is similar The resultant phenotype is a
to the dominant parent in combination of the dominant
monogenic inheritance. phenotypes of both parents in polygenic
inheritance. Intermediate forms are
common.
Medium
Monogenic inheritance shows Polygenic inheritance shows deviation
Mendelian inheritance pattern. from Mendelian inheritance (non-
mendelian inheritance pattern).
Measuring the Traits
Traits cannot be measured in Traits can be quantitatively measured in
monogenic inheritance. Most of polygenic inheritance.
them are qualitative traits.
Character Variation
Monogenic inheritance portrays a Polygenic inheritance portrays a
discontinuous variation of the continuous variation of the character.
character.

Summary – Monogenic vs Polygenic Inheritance

In summary, it is of great importance to understand these inheritance patterns in order
to understand the manner in which different traits are expressed in organisms. The
two main forms monogenic inheritance and polygenic inheritance represents the
traditional Mendelian inheritance pattern and the later discovered Non – Mendelian
inheritance patterns, respectively. In these two patterns, the inheritance is governed
by the number of genes involved in determining the particular trait or phenotype or
character of an organism. Thus, monogenic, as the name suggests, uses one gene to
determine a character; in contrast, polygenic patterns involve more than one gene to
give rise to a single character. This is the difference between monogenic and
polygenic inheritance. The study of the genes involved in these inheritance patterns is
important as it helps to study mutations of genes which give rise to genetic disorders
and to build up genetic relationships among organisms for a common character and
thereby evaluate evolutionary traits.

References:

1.”Difference between Monogenes and Polygenes in Inheritance – Explained!”YourArticleLibrary.com: The Next

Generation Library. N.p., 20 Dec. 2013. Web. Available here. 29 July 2017.
2.”Polygenic inheritance and environmental effects (article).” Khan Academy. N.p., n.d. Web. Available here. 29
July 2017.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Autosomal dominant – en” By Domaina – Own work based on File:ABO system codominance.svg and
File:Autodominant.jpg (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia

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