Genetics

Multifactorial Traits

Traits and genetic disorders are influenced in one way or another by the environment. On the other hand, the heritability of a disorder examines the variations in multifactorial traits due to genetics in a particular population and focuses on the genetic component of variations seen in a trait.

Select a genetic disorder caused by a single-gene trait that is multifactorial. Explain how your chosen genetic disorder is influenced by the environment. Select two diseases—one with high heritability and one with low heritability—and describe the genetic components of the diseases. In your opinion, do the individuals who inherit these diseases have a high mortality, or death, rate? Why?

Autism

Autism has been widely debated and discussed in recent years. Many researchers argue that autism is a genetic disorder, while others debate that autism is a result of environmental influences.

Rates of autism have been on the rise in the United States since 1990. Do these findings support the claim that the disease has a genetic basis? If so, how? If not, why not? Can environmental influences explain these findings? Why or why not?