Posted by:
Chris_Harper2
at Tue Sep 30 14:57:57 2008 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by Chris_Harper2 ]
Is super gene another way of saying a polygenic trait?
Oh boy, I could write a very lengthy reply here. I'll summarize by saying that in modern usage one would say that polymorphic traits under supergene control are a type of polygenic trait. But please understand that not all polygenic traits are polymorphic. In fact the term polygenic TYPICALLY refers to traits that have continous variation, like human height. Sorry for the bold caps, they were included to emphasise the conjecture.
and are there any other possibilities?
Absolutely. Genetic mechanisms are rarely mutually exclusive from one another. Us snake people all learned genetics with terms like homozygous or heterozygous, dominate or recessive, etc. But more with more complex quantitative genetics multiple mechanisms can occur simultaneously.
Specifically is it possible that this trait is an example of Incomplete Penetrance and Variable Expressivity?
Again, absolutely. In fact supergenes could play a role in the phenomena you mentioned. ----- Currently keeping:
6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Javan, mixed colors)
1.1 Philodryas baroni
1.1 Lampropeltis triangulum multistriata
1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback
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