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Write a note in 150 words
Mendelian and non-Mendelian traits.

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CSE 2025 (Prelims) CSAT Official Paper (25-May-2025)

Mendelian traits are those inherited according to Gregor Mendel's laws of segregation and independent assortment. They are typically controlled by a single gene at a specific locus, with clear dominant and recessive alleles, leading to predictable patterns of inheritance often observable in simple ratios. Examples include blood groups (ABO system) or certain genetic disorders like Huntington’s disease. In contrast, non-Mendelian traits deviate from these simple patterns. They often involve multiple genes (polygenic inheritance), environmental influences (multifactorial inheritance), or complex interactions like epistasis or pleiotropy. Many common human characteristics, such as height, skin color, or susceptibility to conditions like diabetes, fall under this category, displaying continuous variation rather than distinct categories. Understanding both is crucial for grasping the full spectrum of human genetic diversity and disease.

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