Polygenic Inheritance is the inheritance pattern of a trait controlled by two or more genes. Many human human traits are controlled by polygenic inheritance. For example, height, weight, body build, and shape of eyes, lips, and ears are examples of some of these traits. It is estimated that skin color is controlled by three to six genes. Even more gene pairs may control the color of your hair and eyes. Polygenic inheritance is, of course, not limited to human traits. Grain color in wheat, milk production in cows, and egg production in chickens are polygenic traits also. The study of genes is no longera simple look at a single trait controlled by one pair of alleles.
