Polymerization

Polymerism is a phenomenon in which several genes are interconnected and jointly affect the same characteristic of the organism. An example is human growth, where polymerization can occur between genes responsible for the growth of joints and muscles, as well as the production of growth hormones. Thus, height may be higher in people who have a combination of dominant alleles of both of these genes. Another example is eye color, which depends on several genes, one of which causes the eye to be blue, another causes the presence of a greenish tint, and the third is the ability of the eye to remain dark. When these three genes are combined, light green or turquoise eye color can result.

Polymerism plays an important role in determining the phenotype of an organism, since the influence of each gene differs from the influence of another when two or more alleles of these genes are simultaneously present in an individual. In addition, genes interact at the post-translational level, when the expression of a particular gene depends on the level of a particular protein, or when forming a transcription gradient through local control depending on the location of each gene.

The study of polymers is of great importance for the development of new technologies for genetic diagnosis and pharmacotherapy of hereditary diseases, especially in cases of polygenic diseases associated with multiple genetic factors. The polymers approach can help us understand the many factors that can influence the appearance and function of organisms; the study of polymers allows us to unlock the potential of genetic research and use it as a scientific basis for improving human health and developing genetic technologies.