[Gregor Mendel and dysplastic nevi].

In contrast to what has so far generally been believed, dysplastic nevi do not appear to be mendelizing, but rather due to polygenic inheritance. In order to explain this contrasting idea, the following six theses are presented: (1) All dysplastic nevi are inherited in the same manner. (2) Dysplastic nevi constitute a continuous trait. (3) A "dysplastic nevus syndrome" in the form of a monogenic autosomal dominant trait probably does not exist. (4) A nonhereditary dysplastic nevus syndrome does not exist. (5) The number of the underlying genes that, considered separately, do of course follow the rules of mendelian inheritance is so far unknown. (6) A search for a single underlying gene defect is probably hopeless.