16.

HEREDITY AND VARIATION

Q1) Complete the following sentences by choosing the words from the brackets.
Ans:
a) gene
b) asexual reproduction
c) chromosomes
d) DNA
e) Sexual reproduction

Q2) Explain the following.

a) Ans:
i) In this experiment, Mendel brought about the cross between two pea plants with only
one pair of contrasting characters. This type of cross is called a monohybrid cross.
ii) Tall pea plants and dwarf pea plant were used in this cross. Hence, this is parent
generation (P1) Mendel referred to the tall plants as dominant with genes TT and dwarf
plants as recessive with genes tt.
iii) Mendel observed that all plants of first filial generation (F1 ) were tall. Thus, phenotype
of F1 plants is tall and genotype is mixed i.e. Tt.
iv) Mendel self-fertilized F1 plants from which a second filial (F2 ) generation was produced
in which both tall and dwarf pea plants appeared with the phenotypic ratio of these
plants is 3(tall):1(dwarf) and genotypic ratio 1(TT):2(Tt):1(tt).
v) F2 plants are following type:
Pure dominant (TT) - tall plants Homozygous
Pure recessive (tt) - dwarf plants Homozygous
Hybrid plants (Tt) - tall plants Heterozygous
b) Ans:
i) In the dihybrid cross, two pairs of contrasting characteristics are under consideration.
ii) In this cross, two pairs of contrasting characteristics were considered colour of seeds
and shape of seeds. Hence, it is called a dihybrid cross.
iii) Mendel selected the pea plants producing rounded yellow seeds with genes RRYY and
wrinkled green seeds with genes rryy as parent plants.
iv) In the F1 generation, the genotype of the plants was RrYy and their phenotype was like
the parents producing rounded-yellow seeds. The F1 generation plants produced four
types of gametes RY, Ry, rY, ry.
v) F2 generation is formed through the selfing of F1 plants and the results obtained are as
follows:
Phenotypic ratio :-
9(Round-Yellow):3(Wrinkled-Yellow):3(Round-Green):1(Wrinkled-Green)
Genotypic ratio :-
1(RRYY):2(RRYy):1(RRyy):2(RrYY):4(RrYy):2(Rryy):1(rrYY):2(rrYy):1(rryy)
 c) Ans:
MONOHYBRID CROSS DIHYBRID CROSS

1) The cross between two pure parents with 1) The cross between two pure parents with
a single pair of contrasting character is two pairs of contrasting characters is called
called monohybrid cross. dihybrid cross.
2) F1 plants of monohybrid cross produce 2) F1 plants of dihybrid cross produce four
two types of gametes. types of gametes.
3) Phenotype ratio is 3:1 3) Phenotype ratio is 9:3:3:1
4) Genotype ratio is 1:2:1 4) Genotype ratio is 1:1:2:2:4:2:2:1:1
5) Useful to study dominance of genes. 5) Useful to study assortment of offspring.

d) Ans:
i) No, it is not right to avoid living with a person suffering from a genetic disorder.
ii) Genetic disorders are transmitted from parents to offsprings only and they are
noncontagious, i.e. they do not spread from one person to another through contact.
iii) Genetic disorders are caused due to changes in the sequence of the genes or DNA
molecule.
iv) We should support and accept people with such disorders so that they can live a
normal life.

Q3) Answer the following questions in your own words.

a) Ans:

i) The structure in the nucleus of cells that carries the hereditary characteristics is called
the chromosome.
ii) It is made up mainly of nucleic acids and proteins. ‘Genes’ which contain the
information about hereditary characteristics in coded form are located on
chromosomes. Each species has a specific number of chromosomes.
iii) Each chromosome is made up of DNA and it appears dumbell-shaped midway during
cell division.
 iv) There is a constricted region on each chromosome. It is called the ‘Primary
constriction’ or ‘Centromere’.
v) This divides the chromosome into two parts. Each part is called an ‘arm’. The
centromere has a specific position in each chromosome.
vi) Depending upon this, there are four types of chromosomes:
➢ Metacentric: The centromere is exactly at the mid-point in this chromosome, and
therefore the chromosome looks like the English letter ‘V’. The arms of this
chromosome are equal in length.
➢ Sub-metacentric: The centromere is somewhere near the mid-point in this
chromosome which therefore looks like English letter ‘L’. One arm is slightly
shorter than the other.
➢ Acrocentric: The centromere is near one end of this chromosome which therefore
looks like the English letter ‘j’. One arm is much smaller than other.
➢ Telocentric: The centromere is right at the end of this chromosome making the
chromosome look like the English letter ‘i’. This chromosome consists of only one
arm.

vii) Generally, in somatic cells chromosomes are in pairs. If the pair consists of similar
chromosomes by shape and organization, they are called ‘homologous chromosomes’
and if they are not similar they are called ‘heterologous chromosomes’.
viii) In case of organisms that reproduce sexually one of the chromosomal pairs is different
from all than others. Chromosomes of this different pair are called ‘sex chromosomes’
or allosomes and all other chromosomes are called ‘autosomes’.

b) Ans:
i) DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid. The structure of the DNA molecule is the same
in all organisms. In 1953, Watson and Crick produced a model of the DNA molecule.
ii) As per this model, two parallel threads of nucleotides are coiled around each other.
This arrangement is called a ‘double helix’. This structure can be compared with a
coiled and flexible ladder.
iii) Each strand in the molecule of DNA is made up of many small molecules known as
‘nucleotide’.
iv) There are four types of nitrogenous bases adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine.
Adenine and guanine are called as ‘purines’ while cytosine and thymine are called
‘pyrimidines’.
v) In the structure of the nucleotide, a molecule of a nitrogenous base and phosphoric
acid are each joined to a molecule of sugar. As there are four types of nitrogenous
bases, nucleotides also are of four types.
 vi) Nucleotides are arranged like a chain, in a molecule of DNA. The two threads of the
DNA molecule are comparable to the two rails of a ladder and each rail is made up of
alternately joined molecules of sugar and phosphoric acid.
vii) Each rung of the ladder is a pair of nitrogenous bases joined by hydrogen bonds.
Adenine always pairs with thymine and cytosine always pairs with guanine.

c) Ans:
i) DNA fingerprinting is the technique in which the sequence of the genes in the DNA of
a person, i.e., the genome of the person is identified.
ii) This technique is useful to identify the lineage and to identify criminals.
iii) It is also useful to identify paternity and maternity disputes, etc.
iv) A common method of collecting a reference sample, is in the use of a buccal swab. If
this is not available, blood or saliva or hair sample may be used.
v) Just like actual fingerprint, the DNA fingerprint is something that a person is born
with. It is unique to every person.
vi) DNA fingerprint is very useful in forensic science.

d) Ans:
i) RNA is the second important nucleic acid of the cell. This nucleic acid is made up of
ribose sugar, phosphate molecules and four types of nitrogenous bases adenine,
guanine, cytosine and uracil.
ii) The nucleotide i.e. smallest unit of the chain of the RNA molecule is formed by
combination of a ribose sugar, phosphate molecule and one of the nitrogenous bases.
iii) Large numbers of nucleotides are bonded together to form the macromolecule of RNA.
iv) According to function, there are three types of RNA.
1) Ribosomal RNA (rRNA): The molecule of RNA which is a component of the
ribosome organelle is called a ribosomal RNA. Ribosomes perform the function of
protein synthesis.
2) Messenger RNA (mRNA): The RNA molecule that carries the information of
protein synthesis from genes i.e. DNA chain in the cell nucleus to ribosomes in the
cytoplasm which produce the proteins, is called messenger RNA.
 3) Transfer RNA (tRNA): The RNA molecule which, according to the message of the
mRNA carries the amino acid up to the ribosomes is called transfer RNA.

e) Ans:
i) It is necessary for people to have their blood examined before marriage because
genetic disorders are transmitted only by reproduction.
ii) If a carrier/ sufferer of a genetic disorder marries a person who is also a carrier/
sufferer of the disorder, then there are chances that the disorder will be passed to their
offsprings.
iii) In order to prevent this transmission, people should get their blood examined before
marriage to know if they are carrier of any genetic disorder.

Q4) Write a brief note on:

a) Ans:
i) Down syndrome is a disorder arising due to chromosomal abnormality.
ii) This is the first discovered and described chromosomal disorder in human beings.
iii) This disorder is characterised by the presence of 47 chromosomes. It is described as
trisomy of the 21st chromosome.
iv) Infants with this disorder have one extra chromosome with the 21st pair in every cell
of their body. Therefore, they have 47 chromosomes instead of 46.
v) Children suffering from Down’s syndrome are usually mentally retarded and have a
short lifespan.
vi) Mental retardation is the most prominent characteristic. Other symptoms include short
height, short wide neck, flat nose, short fingers, scanty hair, single horizontal crease on
palm, and a life expectancy of about 16 – 20 years.

b) Ans:
i) Disorders or diseases occurring due to mutation in any single gene into a defective one
are called monogenic disorders.
ii) Approximately 4000 different disorders of this type are now known.
iii) Due to abnormal genes, their products are either produced in insufficient quantity or
not at all.
iv) It causes abnormal metabolism that may lead to death at a tender age.
v) Examples of such disorders are Hutchinson’s disease, Tay-Sachs disease,
galactosaemia, phenylketonuria, sickle cell anaemia, cystic fibrosis, albinism,
haemophilia, night blindness, etc.

c) Ans:
i) Sickle-cell anaemia is a hereditary disease caused due to mutation in a single gene. It
is a monogenic disorder.
ii) Symptoms of sickle-cell anaemia: Swelling of hands and legs, pain in joints, severe
general body aches, frequent colds and cough, constant low grade fever, exhaustion,
pale face, low haemoglobin content.
 iii) Remedies of sickle-cell anaemia: This disease is spread in only one way i.e.
reproduction. Hence, husband and wife should get their blood examined either before
marriage or after it.
1) A carrier or sufferer should avoid marriage with another carrier or sufferer.
2) A person suffering from sickle cell anaemia should take a tablet of folic acid daily.

Q5) How are the items in groups A, B and C inter-releated?

Ans:

Q6) Fill in the blanks based on the given relationship.

a) Ans: Klinefelter syndrome
b) Ans: Dihybrid cross
c) Ans: Klinefelter syndrome

Q7) Complete the tree diagram below.

Ans:

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