1. Polygenic Inheritance: This is the most likely concept you are referring to. It describes traits that are influenced by multiple genes, not just one. These genes often have small, additive effects on the phenotype. Examples include height, skin color, and susceptibility to certain diseases.
2. Epistasis: This refers to the interaction of genes, where the expression of one gene can affect the expression of another gene. This can lead to complex phenotypes that don't follow simple Mendelian patterns of inheritance.
3. Pleiotropy: This describes a single gene that can influence multiple traits. For instance, a single gene mutation might lead to changes in both eye and skin color.
Important Note: It's crucial to understand that "multiple gene inheritance" isn't a distinct concept on its own. It's often used interchangeably with polygenic inheritance, but the term "polygenic inheritance" is the preferred and more accurate term.
