Continuously varying traits typically show a bell-shaped frequency distribution. Explain why this is the case, and why intermediate phenotypes are more frequent than phenotypes at either end of the distribution

What will be an ideal response?


The greater frequency of intermediate phenotypes is a consequence of a greater frequency of intermediate genotypes stemming from allelic combinatorials. Even a single two-allele gene possesses twice as many ways to make a heterozygote (Aa and aA), the number of which increase exponentially as the number of genes increase.

Biology & Microbiology

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Sex cells can be described as _______, while somatic cells can be described as _______.

a. haploid; haploid b. diploid; diploid c. haploid; diploid d. diploid; haploid

Biology & Microbiology

In the Beadle and Tatum study, it was important that Neurospora was haploid because:a

it is easier to grow haploid molds in the laboratory. b. haploid molds have simpler nutritional requirements than do diploid molds. c. a mutation that arises is not masked by a normal allele on a homologous chromosome. d. haploid Neurospora will always mutate. e. diploid Neurospora will always mutate.

Biology & Microbiology

Which of the following terms refers to both the movement of a ribosome along a piece of mRNA and the movement of a piece of one chromosome to another chromosome

A. Transduction B. Transgenesis C. Transformation D. Translocation E. Transplantation

Biology & Microbiology

Only primates play

Indicate whether the statement is true or false

Biology & Microbiology