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NEET 2025 Botany Question 130 Solution

Topic: Principles of Inheritance and Variation · Official NTA Booklet Code 45

Question

What is the pattern of inheritance for polygenic trait?

(1)Mendelian inheritance pattern
(2)Non-mendelian inheritance pattern
(3)Autosomal dominant pattern
(4)X-linked recessive inheritance pattern

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Verified Against NTA Final Answer Key

Option (2) : Non-mendelian inheritance pattern

📚 Principles of Inheritance and Variation Easy

📋 Given Parameters & Problem Setup

Target Trait Class Polygenic trait (quantitative trait, e.g., human skin colour, height)

Target Classification Pattern of inheritance

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The 30-Second Exam Hall Shortcut: ⚡ Mendelian vs Non-Mendelian Fingerprint

⏱️ Save ~20 seconds

Mendelian = Monogenic qualitative traits (distinct discrete ratios 3:1, 9:3:3:1)! Polygenic = Multiple genes with additive continuous quantitative variation -> NON-MENDELIAN inheritance!

1 Distinguish Mendelian vs Non-Mendelian traits:

2 - Mendelian inheritance: Single gene controlling distinct alternate traits (e.g. Tall vs Dwarf) without environmental gradations.

3 - Polygenic inheritance: Traits controlled by three or more genes with cumulative/additive allele effects (e.g., AABBCC dark skin vs aabbcc light skin in human skin colour) producing a bell-shaped continuous phenotypic spectrum.

4 - Because it deviates from classical Mendelian segregation ratios, it is a Non-Mendelian inheritance pattern.

5 Select Option (2) Non-mendelian inheritance pattern!

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Why You Can 100% Trust This Shortcut: Polygenic Inheritance & Pleiotropy Distinctions (NCERT Biology · Principles of Inheritance and Variation).

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Step-by-Step Rigorous Workflow & Mathematical Proof

Step 1

Concept of Polygenic Inheritance

Gregor Mendel studied traits that had distinct alternate forms (e.g. purple vs white flowers, yellow vs green seeds). However, in nature, many traits exhibit continuous gradation rather than distinct all-or-none phenotypes:

• Traits that are generally controlled by three or more genes are called polygenic traits.
• Classic examples include human skin colour (controlled by three genes A, B, C as explained in NCERT), human height, and intelligence.
• Polygenic inheritance also takes into account the influence of the environment.

Step 2

Why Polygenic Inheritance is Non-Mendelian

Evaluating inheritance classifications:

• Mendelian inheritance is based on unit factors (genes) with dominant and recessive alleles yielding discrete qualitative phenotypic ratios (3:1 monohybrid, 9:3:3:1 dihybrid).
• Polygenic inheritance involves multiple loci exhibiting additive or quantitative effects, where the phenotype reflects the total number of dominant/contributing alleles, resulting in a continuous Gaussian distribution.
• Consequently, it represents an extension/deviation from classical Mendelian rules, categorized firmly as a Non-Mendelian inheritance pattern.

Step 3

Conclusion

Polygenic traits display a Non-Mendelian pattern of inheritance.

\text{Polygenic Trait} \implies \text{Non-Mendelian Inheritance Pattern}

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360° Option Elimination Engine Key Feature

Diagnose every choice: Know exactly why the right option works and why distractors fail.

4-Option Deep Scan

1 A

✗ Incorrect

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Incorrect. Mendelian inheritance strictly describes single-gene, qualitative discrete traits.

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Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Confusing all genetic inheritance with classical Mendelian ratios.

2 B

✓ 100% Correct

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

100% correct. Polygenic quantitative traits deviate from simple Mendelian single-gene ratios and are classified as Non-Mendelian.

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Why this is airtight: None; clear understanding of genetic paradigms.

3 C

✗ Incorrect

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Incorrect. Autosomal dominant refers to single-gene monogenic conditions (e.g., Huntington chorea, myotonic dystrophy).

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Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Confusing additive multi-gene alleles with single-gene dominance.

4 D

✗ Incorrect

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Incorrect. X-linked recessive applies to single genes on the X chromosome (e.g., haemophilia, color blindness).

⚠️

Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Confusing sex-linkage with polygenic inheritance.

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NTA Trap Alert: Qualitative vs Quantitative Inheritance

Mendel studied qualitative traits (discontinuous variation). Polygenic inheritance governs quantitative traits (continuous variation, multiple loci, additive alleles). Quantitative traits are inherently Non-Mendelian!

🛡️ How to avoid the -1 mark: Continuous variation / polygenic = Non-Mendelian.

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Core NEET Syllabus Standard

NEET Biology Core Syllabus · Principles of Inheritance and Variation Standard Benchmark

Core Scientific Principle Tested:

"Polygenic inheritance involves multiple genes showing additive effects and continuous variation, representing a non-Mendelian pattern."

Syllabus Focus: Polygenic Inheritance

✓ Core NEET UG Syllabus Anchor Syllabus & Academic Standards ↗

POLY-genes = Plenty of genes, Not simple Mendel (Non-Mendelian)!

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NEET 2025 Botany Question 130 Solution

Question

The 30-Second Exam Hall Shortcut: ⚡ Mendelian vs Non-Mendelian Fingerprint

Step-by-Step Rigorous Workflow & Mathematical Proof

Concept of Polygenic Inheritance

Why Polygenic Inheritance is Non-Mendelian

Conclusion

360° Option Elimination Engine Key Feature

NTA Trap Alert: Qualitative vs Quantitative Inheritance

Core NEET Syllabus Standard

Ready to attempt under real exam pressure?

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