The general studies of qualitative and quantitative traits are called qualitative genetics and quantitative genetics. The major difference between the two are following:
Quantitative & Qualitative Genetics
| No | Qualitative Genetics | Quantitative Genetics |
| 1 | Characters of kind | Characters of degree |
| 2 | Discontinuous variation; distinct phenotypic classes | Continuous variation; phenotypic measurements form a spectrum |
| 3 | Single gene effects | Polygenic control; effects of single genes too slight to be detected |
| 4 | Concerned with individual matings and their progeny | Concerned with population of organisms consisting of all possible kinds of matings |
| 5 | Analyzed by making counts and ratios | Stastical analyses give estimates of population parameters such as the mean and standard deviation. |
| 6 | Examples: Round or wrinkled seeds of pea Horned or hornless condition in cattles Black or white coat of guinea pigs | Examples: Kernel colour in Wheat Skin colour in Man Eye colour in Man |
