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Research Paper | Genetics | Volume 15 Issue 2, February 2026 | Pages: 703 - 705 | India
Complex Inheritance of Human Traits: A Population Study from Karnataka
Abstract: This study determined phenotypic frequencies of five commonly cited human traits in 433 individuals from Mandya, Karnataka, India. Data analyzed included ear lobe morphology, tongue rolling ability, widow's peak, hitchhiker's thumb, and index-ring finger length. Statistical validation using chi-square analysis and confidence intervals evaluated distributions against traditional Mendelian inheritance models. Findings reveal hitchhiker's thumb conforms to expected recessive patterns (chi-square=1.85, p=0.17), while ear lobe morphology (chi-square=65.79, p<0.001), tongue rolling (chi-square=62.23, p<0.001), and widow's peak (chi-square=12.81, p<0.001) significantly deviate from simple Mendelian ratios. Results demonstrate these traits are influenced by polygenic inheritance, environmental interactions, and sex-influenced gene expression. Gender comparison for finger length showed no significant difference (chi-square=2.34, p=0.31). This study provides empirical evidence challenging oversimplified genetic models commonly used in genetics education, highlighting the complex nature of human heredity.
Keywords: Mendelian traits, population genetics, Karnataka, chi-square analysis, genetics education
How to Cite?: Dinesh Udapi, "Complex Inheritance of Human Traits: A Population Study from Karnataka", Volume 15 Issue 2, February 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 703-705, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26211210122, DOI: https://dx.dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26211210122