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SCIENCE 9 - Heredity

Heredity is the process by which traits are passed from parents to offspring. It involves both inheritance, through the transmission of genetic material like DNA from parents to offspring, and variation, meaning the differences in traits that arise between individuals. Inheritance follows Mendel's laws of genetics and traits can be dominant or recessive, while variation occurs via genetic mutations, environmental factors, and developmental processes. Together, inheritance and variation are key to evolution as they generate diversity within populations that natural selection can act upon.

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51 views11 pages

SCIENCE 9 - Heredity

Heredity is the process by which traits are passed from parents to offspring. It involves both inheritance, through the transmission of genetic material like DNA from parents to offspring, and variation, meaning the differences in traits that arise between individuals. Inheritance follows Mendel's laws of genetics and traits can be dominant or recessive, while variation occurs via genetic mutations, environmental factors, and developmental processes. Together, inheritance and variation are key to evolution as they generate diversity within populations that natural selection can act upon.

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emanuel.ferrer.sbe
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Heredity: INHERITANCE AND VARIATION

Heredity is the process by which traits and characteristics are


passed from one generation to the next in living organisms. It
encompasses the study of inheritance and variation, two
fundamental aspects of biology that play a crucial role in the
diversity of life on Earth.
Inheritance:
Inheritance refers to the transmission of genetic
information from parents to their offspring. The key
mechanisms involved in inheritance are as follows:
a. DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the molecule
responsible for storing and transmitting genetic information. It
is organized into structures called genes, which contain the
instructions for building and maintaining an organism.
b.Reproduction:
In sexually reproducing organisms,
offspring inherit a combination of genetic
material from both parents.
This genetic material is passed down
through the gametes, which are sex cells
(sperm and egg in animals, pollen and
ovules in plants).
c. Mendelian Genetics: Gregor Mendel, an Austrian monk,
laid the foundation for modern genetics in the 19th century by
discovering the principles of inheritance through his
experiments with pea plants. Mendel's laws, including the law
of segregation and the law of independent assortment, describe
how traits are inherited in a predictable manner.
d. Dominance and Recessiveness: Traits can be dominant or
recessive, meaning that one allele (variant of a gene) may
mask the expression of the other. For example, in humans,
the allele for brown eyes is dominant over the allele for blue
eyes.
e. Genetic Variation: Inheritance also involves genetic
variation. While offspring inherit traits from their parents,
they are not exact replicas. Genetic variation occurs due to
mutations, recombination during meiosis, and random
assortment of alleles, leading to diversity within populations.
Variation:
Variation refers to the differences in traits among individuals
within a population or species. It is a fundamental aspect of
biology and evolution, and it arises from several sources:
a. Genetic Variation: Genetic variation occurs due to
differences in the alleles individuals carry for a particular
gene. This variation can result from mutations, which are
changes in the DNA sequence. Mutations can be beneficial,
harmful, or neutral and are a source of diversity within
populations.
b. Environmental Variation: Traits can also vary due to
environmental influences. Environmental factors like
nutrition, temperature, and exposure to toxins can impact the
expression of genes and lead to variation among individuals.
c. Developmental Variation: Developmental processes can
introduce variation. Even individuals with identical genetic
information can develop differently due to factors like cell
interactions and stochastic processes during development.
d. Evolutionary Significance: Variation is central to the
process of evolution by natural selection. Populations with
greater genetic diversity are more adaptable to changing
environments. Natural selection acts on this variation,
favoring traits that increase an individual's fitness in a
particular environment.
In summary, heredity encompasses both inheritance and
variation in living organisms. Inheritance involves the
transmission of genetic information from one generation to
the next, while variation refers to the differences in traits
among individuals. These two concepts are fundamental to
understanding the mechanisms of genetics and the processes
of evolution in biology.

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