Definition
Mendelian genetics put forward the concept of dominant and recessive traits, where the phenotypes are controlled by single genes. These traits are known as monogenic or Mendelian traits. Though there are many genes that control Mendelian traits, in contrast, there are features or traits in human genetics which are controlled by multiple genes and whose inheritance does not follow the rules of Mendelian genetics. Such traits are known as complex traits.
Examples of complex traits include disorders such as autism, cardiac disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and asthma. Complex traits are believed to result from gene-gene and gene-environment interactions, genetic heterogeneity, and potentially other yet unknown reasons.
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Frazer, K. A., Murray, S. S., Schork, N. J., & Topol, E. J. (2009). Human genetic variation and its contribution to complex traits. Nature Reviews Genetics, 10, 241–251.
Glazier, A. M., Nadeau, J. H., & Aitman, T. J. (2002). Finding genes that underlie complex traits. Science, 298, 2345–2350.
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Singh, A. (2013). Complex Traits. In: Gellman, M.D., Turner, J.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1005-9_680
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1005-9_680
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
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