T.C.
HALIC UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND LITERATURE
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS
MBG204
GENETICS LABORATORY
Istanbul – 2024
POLYGENIC INHERITANCE
The polygenic inheritance model explains inheritance of many behavioural,
anatomical, and physiological characters in humans. The control of a character by multiple
genes is called polygenic inheritance. Unlike characters controlled by a single gene, polygenic
characters are measurable, metric characters (height, weight, intelligence, skin color, eye
color). In multifactorial inheritance, many genes act together with environmental factors. For
instance, the height of a person depends on the genes inherited from their parents, as well as
his/her lifestyle and diet. Fingerprints, which are different in each person, are both polygenic
and multifactorial character. It is thought that fingerprint formation is under the influence of at
least 7 genes and is also affected by factors such as how the fetus is fed in the uterus and
which direction it is facing.
In this experiment, it will be shown that the number of fingerprint lines is a metric
character and its compatibility with the polygenic inheritance model.
The number of lines (ridge) on the ten fingers is called the total number of ridges
(Total Ridge Count, TRC) and this feature has a polygenic character. The average TRC is 145
for men and 126 for women. Fingerprint models are divided into 3 groups: Arch), Loop,
Whorls. In the Arch finger model, the number of lines is zero. In the Loop finger model, the
number of ridges is obtained by counting the lines from the center to the triradius. For Whorl,
the lines from each triradius to the center are counted and the highest value is used. Triradius
is the point where lines from three directions meet at an angle of 120º. The core is the line
surrounded by many lines facing them 180 degrees (Figure 1-2). In populations, the frequency
of the arch is 5%, radial loop is 5.4%, ulnar loop is 63.5%, and whorl is 26.1% (Figure 3).
Figure 1. A) Arch that is not triradius and has a ridge number of 0 B) Loop with one triradius
and 12 ridges C) Whorl with 2 triradius and 15 ridges
Figure 2. Examples of different triradius.
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Figure 3. Radial and ulnar loop.
In polygenic inheritance:
Character is controlled by multiple, independent of each other gene loci.
Each gene locus that controls the character is named with an allele that do or do not
affect the phenotype.
Neither allele controlling the character is dominant over the other. Each allele has an
equal effect on the phenotype.
Each allele has an effect on the phenotype, so the phenotype is determined by the sum
of the effects of each allele.
Skin color, intelligence and stature are shown as examples of polygenic characters in
humans.
Hair Color (Polygenic Inheritance)
Hair color is formed by a variety of different genes. It is not known exactly how many
genes are responsible in total. But assume that 4 genes are involved in this application.
(AABBCCDD indicates black hair color, AABbCcdd indicates light brown hair color,
aaBbccdd indicates very light blond hair color).
8 dominant allele = black
7 dominant allele = very dark brown
6 dominant allele = dark brown
5 dominant allele = brown
4 dominant allele = light brown
3 dominant allele = brown mixed with yellow
2 dominant allele = yellow
1 dominant allele= very light yellow
0 dominant allele = white
Eye Color (Polygenic Inheritance):
Another polygenic character that is still unknown exactly how many genes are
responsible for its inheritance is eye color. Let’s assume that 2 genes are involved in this
application. The first gene (E gene) determines the pigment in front of the iris. Second gene
(C gene) refers to the pigment behind the iris.
EECC = Dark brown
EECc = Dark brown
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EEcc = Brown
EeCC = Green mottled brown
EeCc = Brown
Eecc = Gray-blue
EeCC = Green
eeCc = Dark blue
eecc = Light blue
SEPARATED AND ATTACHED EARLOBES (MENDELIAN INHERITANCE):
Some people have attached earlobes while others have separated. The gene responsible
for separated earlobes is dominant while the gene responsible for attached is recessive. Let's
consider the gene encoding the separated earlobe as “M” (dominant) and the attached one as
“m” (recessive). If you inherited the gene responsible for separated earlobes from at least one
of your parents, your “Mm” or “MM” earlobe will be separated. To have attached earlobes,
your genotype must be "mm", that is, you need to get recessive genes from both your parents.
METHOD:
1. Scribble an area of approximately 3cm2 on white paper with a pencil.
2. Press each of your fingers onto the paper you scribbled with a pencil, color the
triradius of each finger.
3. Place the transparent tape on your finger to cover all parts of your painted finger so
that your fingerprints are transferred to the tape.
4. Remove the tape from your finger and stick it to the appropriate place on the table in
your experiment sheet.
5. Repeat steps 1-4 for each finger of both hands.
6. Specify the fingerprint type and number of lines (ridges) for each finger.
7. Write the fingerprint type, TRC, and gender in the table. Copy the table created for the
class into your notebook and make the calculations in the table.
REFERENCES:
Lewis R (2008) HUMAN GENETICS Concepts and Applications (Pages 132-139),
8th Ed. McGraw-Hill
[Link]
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RIGHT HAND
Thumb Forefinger 3rd finger Ring finger Little finger
Type
Number of
ridges
Total Ridge
Count
Fingerprint
LEFT HAND
Thumb Forefinger 3rd finger Ring finger Little finger
Type
Number of
ridges
Total Ridge
Count
Fingerprint
Total ridge count for two hands: ……………………………
Table of fingerprint type, TRC, and gender for class
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Student Loop Whorl Arch TRC Gender
Total
Percentage
Average TRC
Average TRC for
women
Average TRC for
men
Homework: Estimate your genotype by writing your own phenotype.
CHARACTER PHENOTYPE ESTIMATED GENOTYPE
Hair color (example) Dark brown AABbCCDd (6 dominant)
Hair color
Eye color
Questions:
1. What is mean of TRC for class?
2. What is mean of TRC for women and men?
3. Compare your own TRC value with the average value of the class and the average
value of your own gender.
4. Is there a difference between the number of men TRC and women TRC? If yes,
explain why.