Ch: 09 Heredity
Ch: 09 Heredity ................................................................................................................................................ 1
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 2
Heredity ........................................................................................................................................................ 2
Sexual reproduction ...................................................................................................................................... 2
Genes ............................................................................................................................................................ 2
Heredity ........................................................................................................................................................ 2
Mendel’s work .............................................................................................................................................. 2
Dominant traits ............................................................................................................................................. 2
Recessive traits ............................................................................................................................................. 3
Monohybrid cross ......................................................................................................................................... 3
Dihybrid cross ............................................................................................................................................... 3
Inheritance In Biology ................................................................................................................................... 3
Sex determination......................................................................................................................................... 4
Variation........................................................................................................................................................ 4
Genetic variations ......................................................................................................................................... 4
Introduction
Heredity refers to the passing of characteristics from one generation to the next. Evolution is defined as
the gradual process by which a simple life form leads to the development of complex organisms over a
period of time, spanning several generations. Here in this chapter, we will learn about the mechanism by
which variations are created, the rules of heredity determining their pattern of inheritance, and how the
accumulation of these variations leads to evolution.
Heredity
The transfer of traits from one generation to the next is termed heredity. Genes are the functional units
of heredity, that transfer characteristics from parents to offspring. Genes are short stretches of DNA
that code for a specific protein or RNA. Genetics is the branch of biology that deals with the study of
genes, heredity and variations.
Sexual reproduction
The mode of reproduction involves two individuals; one male and one female. They produce sex cells or
gametes which fuse to form a new organism.
Genes
1. Gene is the functional unit of heredity.
2. Every gene controls one or several particular characteristic features in living organisms
Heredity
The process by which the features of an organism are passed on from one generation to another is
called heredity.
The process is done by genes, which define the characters in the organism.
Mendel’s work
Gregor Johann Mendel, known as the ‘Father of Genetics’, was an Austrian Monk who worked
on pea plants to understand the concept of heredity.
His work laid the foundation of modern genetics. He made three basic laws of inheritance – The
Law of Dominance, The Law of Segregation and The Law of Independent Assortment.
Dominant traits
The traits that express themselves in an organism in every possible combination and can be seen are
called Dominant traits.
In Mendel’s experiment, we see that the tall trait in pea plants tends to express more than the
short trait.
Therefore, the tall trait of the plant is said to be dominant over the short trait.
Recessive traits
A trait which is not expressed in the presence of a dominant allele is known as recessive. So, recessive
character/trait is present in an organism but cannot be seen if a dominant allele exists.
Monohybrid cross
When only one character is considered while crossing two organisms, then such a cross is known as a
monohybrid cross.
The ratio of characters, arising out of this cross, at F2 generation is called the monohybrid ratio.
E.g., If a tall plant (TT) is crossed with a dwarf plant (tt), we get 3 tall:1 short plant at the end of
the F2 generation. So, 3:1 is a monohybrid ratio.
Here, the height of the plant is considered at a time.
Below is the example of a monohybrid cross between a true-breeding pea plant with green pods
(GG) and yellow pods (gg).
Here, the green colour of the pod is the dominant trait. Hence, in the F1 generation, all plants
contain green pea pods
Dihybrid cross
When two characters are considered while crossing two organisms, then such a cross is known as a
dihybrid cross.
The ratio of characters, arising out of this cross, at F2 generation is called the dihybrid ratio.
E.g., If a plant with round and green pea is crossed with a plant with wrinkled and yellow pea,
The first generation plants would all have round and green peas. On crossing the same for an F2
generation, we would observe four combinations of characters in the ratio of 9:3:3:1.
Thus, 9:3:3:1 is the dihybrid ratio.
Inheritance In Biology
Inheritance pertains to the transfer of traits from one generation to another
Laws of Mendel Law of Dominance: says that a gene has two contrasting alleles and one always
expresses itself in the organism. It is called the dominant gene and it expresses in any possible
combination.
Law of Segregation: says that traits get segregated completely during the formation of gametes
without any mixing of alleles.
Law of Independent Assortment: says that the traits can segregate independently of different
characters during gamete formation
Sex determination
The process of determining the sex of an individual, based on the composition of the genetic material
is called sex determination.
In different animals, the sex of an embryo is determined by different factors.
In humans, sex determination happens on the basis of the presence or absence of the Y
chromosome. XX is female and XY is male.
An ovum always contains an X chromosome. An ovum, upon fusion with the Y containing
sperm, gives rise to a male child and upon fusion with the X containing sperm gives rise to a girl
child.
Traits
Acquired characters: The traits that are acquired by an organism over the period of its lifetime
are termed acquired characteristics. These characters that are not passed on to the DNA of
germ cells do not get transferred to the next generation. E.g. loss of muscles and less weight due
to starvation, loss of limb or tails due to injury, etc.
Inherited characters: The traits that are inherited from the parents are called inherited
characters. These traits always get transferred to the next generation but depending on the
dominance or recessiveness they may or may not be expressed. Examples are height, skin colour
and eye colour.
Variation
Variation is the measure of the difference between individuals of the same species.
Offspring is not identical to parents, there exist some variations.
Each individual in a population differs from the others. Recombination and mutation are the
main causes of variations.
Sexually reproducing organisms show great variation among individuals of a species and the
long-term accumulation of variations plays a significant role in evolution. The selection of
variants by environmental factors is one of the driving factors of evolutionary processes.
Genetic variations
The differences in the DNA sequences among every organism leading to the diverse gene pool are
called genetic variations.
Changing natural conditions exert equal pressure on all the existing species. The species/organisms
which are better adapted to the changing conditions survive and reproduce i.e. selected by nature and
species/organisms which cannot adapt perish i.e. rejected by nature.
