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Chapter-04
PRINCIPLES OF INHERITANCE AND VARIATION

Important Terms:
Genetics: Study of inheritance, heredity and variation of characters or Study of genes and
chromosomes.
Inheritance/ Heredity: Transmission of characters from parents to offspring. It results in
resemblance between offspring and their parents.
Variation: Difference between parents and offspring.
Allele: Alternative forms of a gene. E.g. T (tall) and t (dwarf) are two alleles of a gene for the
character height.
Homozygous: The condition in which chromosome pairs carry similar alleles of a gene. Also
known as pure line (True breeding). E.g. TT, tt, YY, yy etc.
Heterozygous: The condition in which chromosome pairs carry dissimilar alleles of a gene.
E.g. Tt, Yy etc.
Dominant character: The character which is expressed in heterozygous condition. It
indicates with a capital letter.
Recessive character: The character which is suppressed in heterozygous condition. It
indicates with a small letter.
Phenotype: Physical expression of a character.
Genotype: Genetic constitution of a character.
Hybrid: An individual produced by the mating of genetically unlike parents.
Punnett square: A graphical representation to calculate probability of all genotypes of
offspring in a genetic cross.
● The term genetics was first used by W. Bateson (1905).
● Archibald Garrod is considered as the Father of human genetics.

Mendel’s Law Of Inheritance

Gregor Mendel is the Father of genetics. He conducted some hybridization experiments on
garden peas (Pisum sativum).
Steps in making a cross (Deliberate mating) in pea:
● Selection of 2 pea plants with contrasting characters.
● Removal of anthers (emasculation) of one plant to avoid self-pollination. This is a female
parent.
● Collection of pollen grains from the other plant (male parent) and transferred to female
parent (pollination).
● Collection and germination of seeds to produce offspring.
Mendel selected 7 pairs of true breeding pea varieties:
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Characters Dominant Recessive

1. Stem height Tall Dwarf

2. Flower colour Violet White

3. Flower position Axial Terminal

4. Pod shape Inflated Constricted

5. Pod colour Green Yellow

6. Seed shape Round Wrinkled

7. Seed colour Yellow Green

Inheritance Of One Gene

Monohybrid cross: A cross involving 2 plants differing in one character pair. E.g. Mendel
crossed tall and dwarf pea plants to study the inheritance of one gene.

Monohybrid phenotypic ratio: 3 Tall: 1 Dwarf = 3:1

Monohybrid genotypic ratio:
1 Homozygous tall (TT): 2 Heterozygous tall (Tt):
1 Homozygous dwarf (tt): = 1:2:1
Mendel made similar observations for other pairs of traits.
He proposed that some factors were inherited from parent to offspring. Now it is called genes.
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The F1 (Tt) when self-pollinated, produces gametes T and t in equal proportion. During
fertilization, pollen grains of T have 50% chance to pollinate eggs of T & t. Also, pollen grains
of t have 50% chance to pollinate eggs of T and t.
1/4th of the random fertilization leads to TT (¼ TT).
1/2 (2/4) of the random fertilization leads to Tt (½ Tt).
1/4th of the random fertilization leads to tt (¼ tt).
Tt x Tt
Binomial expression = (ax + by)2
Hence (½ T + ½ t)2 = (½ T + ½ t) (½ T + ½ t)
= ¼ TT + ¼ Tt + ¼ Tt + ¼ tt
= ¼ TT + ½ Tt + ¼ tt
Mendel self-pollinated the F2 plants. He found that dwarf F2 plants continued to generate dwarf
plants in F3 & F4. He concluded that genotype of the dwarfs was homozygous- tt.
Backcross and Testcross
Backcross: Crossing of F1 hybrid with its any of parent.
Testcross: Crossing of F1 hybrid with its recessive parent.

Hence monohybrid test cross ratio= 1:1

Test cross is used to find out the unknown genotype of a character.

Diagrammatic representation of test cross

Mendel conducted test cross to determine the F2 genotype.
Mendel’s Principles or Laws of Inheritance
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1. First Law (Law of Dominance)

● Characters are controlled by discrete units called factors.
● Factors occur in pairs.
● In a dissimilar pair of factors one member of the pair dominates (dominant) the other
(recessive).
2. Second Law (Law of Segregation)
“During gamete formation, the factors (alleles) of a character pair present in parents segregate
from each other such that a gamete receives only one of the 2 factors”.
Homozygous parent produces similar gametes.
Heterozygous parent produces two kinds of gametes each having one allele with equal
proportion.

Inheritance of Two Genes

Dihybrid cross: It is a cross between two parents differing in 2 pairs of contrasting characters.
Mendel made some dihybrid crosses.
E.g. Cross b/w pea plant with round shaped & yellow coloured seeds (RRYY) and wrinkled
shaped & green coloured seeds (rryy).

On observing the F2, Mendel found that yellow and green colour segregated in a 3:1 ratio.
Round & wrinkled seed shape also segregated in a 3:1 ratio.
Dihybrid Phenotypic ratio= 9 Round yellow: 3 Round green: 3 Wrinkled yellow: 1 Wrinkled
green = 9:3:3:1
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The ratio of 9:3:3:1 can be derived as a combination series of 3 yellow: 1 green, with 3 round: 1
wrinkled.
i.e. (3: 1) (3: 1) = 9: 3: 3: 1
Dihybrid genotypic ratio: 1:2:1:2:4:2:1:2:1
RRYY =1 RRYy =2 RrYY =2
RrYy =4 RRyy =1 Rryy =2
rrYY =1 rrYy =2 rryy =1
Mendel’s 3 rd Law: Law of Independent Assortment
It is based on the results of dihybrid crosses.
It states that ‘when more than one pair of characters are involved in a cross, factor pairs
independently segregate from the other pair of characters’.
The concept of dominance
In heterozygotes, there are dominant and recessive alleles. The normal (unmodified or
functioning) allele of a gene produces a normal enzyme that is needed for the transformation of a
substrate. The modified allele is responsible for production of
(i) The normal/less efficient enzyme or
(ii) A non-functional enzyme or
(iii) No enzyme at all
In the first case: The modified allele will produce the same phenotype like the unmodified
allele. It becomes dominant.
In 2nd and 3rd cases: The phenotype will depend only on the functioning of the unmodified
allele. Here, the modified allele becomes recessive.

Other Pattern Of Inheritance (Non-Mendelian Inheritance)

1. Incomplete Dominance
● It is an inheritance in which heterozygous offspring shows intermediate character b/w
two parental characteristics.
● E.g. Flower colour in snapdragon (dog flower or Antirrhinum sp.) and Mirabilis jalapa
(4’O clock plant).
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Here, phenotypic and genotypic ratios are the same.

Phenotypic ratio= 1 Red: 2 Pink: 1 White
Genotypic ratio= 1 (RR): 2 (Rr): 1(rr)
● This means that R was not completely dominant over r.
● Pea plants also show incomplete dominance in other traits.
2. Co-dominance
It is the inheritance in which both alleles of a gene are expressed in a hybrid. E.g. ABO
blood grouping in human.
● ABO blood groups are controlled by the gene I.
● This gene controls the production of sugar polymers (antigens) that protrude from
plasma membrane of RBC.
● The gene I has three alleles IA , IB & i.
● IA and IB produce a slightly different form of the sugar while allele i doesn’t produce any
sugar.
Alleles from Alleles from Genotype of Blood
parent 1 parent 2 offspring types(phenotype)
IA IA IA IA A

IA IB IAIB AB

IA i IAi A

IB IA IAIB AB

IB IB IBIB B

IB i IBi B

i i ii O
When IA and IB are present together they both express their own types of sugars. This is due to
co-dominance.
3. Multiple allelism
Here, more than two alleles govern the same character. E.g. ABO blood grouping (3 alleles: IA ,
IB & i).
4. Polygenic inheritance
● It is the inheritance in which some traits are controlled by three or more genes (multiple
genes). E.g. human skin colour, human height etc.
● It also takes into account the influence of environment.
● In a polygenic trait the phenotype reflects the contribution of each allele, i.e., the effect of
each allele is additive.
Human skin colour:
● Assume that 3 genes A, B, C control human skin colour. The dominant forms A, B & C
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responsible for dark skin colour and recessive forms a, b & c for light skin colour.
● Genotype with all the dominant alleles (AABBCC) gives the darkest skin colour.
Genotype with all the recessive alleles (aabbcc) gives the lightest skin colour.
Therefore, genotype with 3 dominant alleles and 3 recessive alleles gives an
intermediate skin colour.
● Thus, the number of each type of allele determines the darkness or lightness of the skin in
an individual.
5. Pleiotropy
● Here, a single gene exhibits multiple phenotypic expressions. Such a gene is called
pleiotropic gene.
● In most cases, the mechanism of pleiotropy is the effect of a gene on metabolic pathways
which contributes towards different phenotypes.
● E.g. Starch synthesis in pea, sickle cell anaemia, phenylketonuria etc.
● In Phenylketonuria & sickle cell anemia, the mutant gene shows many phenotypic
effects. E.g. Phenylketonuria causes mental retardation, reduction in hair and skin
pigmentation.
Starch synthesis in pea plant:
Starch is synthesized effectively by the BB gene. Therefore, large starch grains are produced. bb
have lesser efficiency in starch synthesis and produce smaller starch grains. Starch grain size also
shows incomplete dominance.

Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance

Mendel’s work remained unrecognized till 1900 because,
● Communication was not easy.
● His mathematical approach was new and unacceptable.
● The concept of genes (factors) as stable and discrete units was unacceptable. (Mendel
could not explain the continuous variation seen in nature).
● Mendel could not provide physical proof for the existence of factors.
In 1900, de Vries, Correns & von Tschermak independently rediscovered Mendel’s results.
Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance (1902):
Walter Sutton & Theodore Boveri said that the pairing and separation of a pair of
chromosomes lead to segregation of a pair of factors they carried. Sutton united chromosomal
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segregation with Mendelian principles and called it the chromosomal theory of inheritance. It
states that,
● Chromosomes are vehicles of heredity.
● Two identical chromosomes form a homologous pair.
● Homologous pair segregates during gamete formation.
● Independent pairs segregate independently of each other.
Genes (factors) are present on chromosomes. Hence genes and chromosomes show similar
behaviours.
Thomas Hunt Morgan proved chromosomal theory of inheritance using fruit flies (Drosophila
melanogaster).
It is the suitable material for genetic study because,
● They can grow on simple synthetic medium.
● Short generation time (life cycle: 12-14 days).
● Breeding can be done throughout the year.
● Hundreds of progenies per mating.
● Male and female flies are easily distinguishable. E.g. Male is smaller than female.
● It has many types of hereditary variations that can be seen with low power microscopes.
Linkage and Recombination
Linkage is the physical association of two or more genes on a chromosome. They do not show
independent assortment.
Recombination is the generation of non-parental gene combinations. It occurs due to
independent assortment or crossing over.
Morgan carried out several dihybrid crosses in Drosophila to study sex-linked genes. E.g.
Cross 1: Yellow-bodied, white-eyed females
X
Brown-bodied, red-eyed males (wild type)
Cross 2: White-eyed, miniature winged
X
Red eyed, large winged (wild type)
Morgan intercrossed their F1 progeny. He found that
● The two genes did not segregate independently of each other and the F2 ratio deviated
from the 9:3:3:1 ratio.
● Genes were located on the X chromosome.
● When two genes were situated on the same chromosome, the proportion of parental gene
combinations was much higher than the non-parental type. This is due to linkage.
● Genes of white eye & yellow body were very tightly linked and showed only 1.3%
recombination.
● Genes of white eye & miniature wing were loosely linked and showed 37.2%
recombination.
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● Tightly linked genes show low recombination. Loosely linked genes show high
recombination.
Alfred Sturtevant used the recombination frequency between gene pairs for measuring the
distance between genes and ‘mapped’ their position on the chromosome.
Genetic maps are used as a starting point in the sequencing of genomes. E.g. Human Genome
Project.

Sex Determination
● The chromosomes that are involved in sex determination are called sex chromosomes
(allosomes). They include X & Y chromosomes.
● Autosomes are chromosomes other than sex chromosomes. Number of autosomes is same
in males and females.
● Henking (1891) studied spermatogenesis in some insects and observed that 50 % of
sperm received a nuclear structure after spermatogenesis, and other 50 % sperm did not
receive it. Henking called this structure as the X body (now it is called as X-
chromosome).
Mechanism of sex determination
a. XX-XO mechanism: Here, male is heterogametic, i.e. XO (Gametes with X and gametes
without X) and female is homogametic, i.e. XX (all gametes are with X Chromosomes). E.g.
Many insects such as grasshopper.
b. XX-XY mechanism: Male is heterogametic (X & Y) and female is homogametic (X only).
E.g. Human & Drosophila.
c. ZZ-ZW mechanism: Male is homogametic (ZZ) and female is heterogametic (Z & W). E.g.
Birds.
XX-XO & XX-XY mechanisms show male heterogamety.
ZZ-ZW mechanism shows female heterogamety.
Sex Determination in Humans (XX-XY type)
● Human has 23 pairs of chromosomes (22 pairs of autosomes and 1 pair of sex
chromosomes).
● A pair of X-chromosomes (XX) is present in the female, whereas X and Y chromosomes
are present in male.
● During spermatogenesis males produce 2 types of gametes. 50 % with X-chromosome
and 50 % with Y-chromosome.
● Females produce only ovum with an X-chromosome.
● There is an equal probability of fertilization of the ovum with the sperm carrying either X
or Y chromosome.
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The sperm determines whether the offspring male or female.

Sex determination in honeybee
● It is based on the number of sets of chromosomes an individual receives.
● Fertilised egg (egg + sperm) develops as a female (queen or worker).
● An unfertilised egg develops as a male (drone). It is called parthenogenesis.
● Therefore, the females are diploid (32 chromosomes) and males are haploid (16
chromosomes). This is called as haplodiploid sex determination system.
● In this system, the males produce sperms by mitosis. They do not have father and thus
cannot have sons, but have a grandfather and can have grandsons.

Mutation
It is a sudden heritable change in DNA sequences resulting in changes in the genotype and the
phenotype of an organism.
Mutation is 2 types:
● Frame-shift mutation: It is the loss (deletions) or gain (insertion/ duplication) of a DNA
segment.
● Point mutation: It is the mutation due to change in a single base pair of DNA. E.g. sickle
cell anemia.
● Mutation results in Chromosomal abnormalities (aberrations). Chromosomal aberrations
are seen in cancer cells.
● The agents which induce mutation are called mutagens. They include
- Physical mutagens: UV radiation, α, β, γ rays, X-ray etc.
- Chemical mutagens: Mustard gas, phenol, formalin etc.

Pedigree Analysis
In human, control crosses are not possible. So the study of family history about inheritance is
used.
Such an analysis of genetic traits in several generations of a family is called pedigree analysis.
The representation or chart showing family history is called family tree (pedigree). In human
genetics, pedigree study is utilized to trace the inheritance of a specific trait, abnormality or
disease.
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Symbols used in pedigree analysis

Male: Female: Sex unspecified:

Affected individual: Mating:

Mating b/w relatives (consanguineous mating):

Parents above & children below Parents with affected male child Five unaffected offspring

Genetic Disorders
The disorders due to change in genes or chromosomes. 2 types: Mendelian disorders &
Chromosomal disorders.
1. Mendelian Disorders
● It is caused by alteration or mutation in the single gene.
● The pattern of inheritance of Mendelian disorders can be traced in a family by the
pedigree analysis.
● E.g. Haemophilia, Colour blindness, Sickle-cell anaemia, Phenylketonuria,
Thalassemia, Cystic fibrosis etc.
● Mendelian disorders may be dominant or recessive.
● By pedigree analysis one can easily understand whether the trait is dominant or recessive.

(a) (b)
Pedigree analysis of (a) Autosomal dominant trait (E.g. Myotonic dystrophy) (b)
Autosomal recessive trait (E.g. Sickle-cell anaemia)
Haemophilia (Royal disease):
● It is a sex linked (X-linked) recessive disease.
● In this, a protein involved in the blood clotting is affected.
● A simple cut results in non-stop bleeding.
● The disease is controlled by a pair of allele, H & h. H is normal allele whereas h is
responsible for haemophilia.
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● The heterozygous female (carrier, XHX h )) for haemophilia may transmit the disease to
sons.
● In females, haemophilia is very rare because it happens only when mother is at least
carrier and father haemophilic (unviable in the later stage of life).
Colour blindness:
● It is a sex-linked (X-linked) recessive disorder due to defect in either red or green cone of
eye. It results in failure to discriminate between red and green colour.
● It is due to mutation in some genes in the X chromosome.
● It occurs in 8% of males and only about 0.4% of females. This is because the genes are
on the X chromosome.
● Normal allele is dominant (C) and recessive allele (c) causes colour blindness.
● The son of a heterozygous woman (carrier, XCX c ) has a 50% chance of being colour
blind.
● A daughter will not be colour blind, unless her mother is at least a carrier and her father is
colour blind (XcY).
Sickle-cell anaemia:
● This is an autosome linked recessive disease.
● It can be transmitted from parents to the offspring when both the partners are carrier for
the gene (or heterozygous).
● The disease is controlled by a pair of allele, HbA and HbS .
Homozygous dominant (HbAHbA ): normal
Heterozygous (HbAHbS ): carrier; sickle cell trait
Homozygous recessive (HbSHbS ): affected
● The defect is caused by the substitution of Glutamic acid (Glu) by Valine (Val) at the
sixth position of the β-globin chain of the haemoglobin (Hb).

● This is due to the single base substitution at the sixth codon of the β-globin gene from
GAG to GUG.
● The mutant Hb molecule undergoes polymerization under low oxygen tension causing
the change in shape of the RBC from biconcave disc to elongated sickle like structure.
Phenylketonuria:
● An inborn error of metabolism.
● Autosomal recessive trait.
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● It is due to mutation of a gene that codes for the enzyme phenyl alanine hydroxylase.
This enzyme converts an amino acid phenylalanine into tyrosine.
● The affected individual lacks this enzyme. As a result, phenylalanine accumulates and
converts into phenyl pyruvic acid and other derivatives.
● They accumulate in brain resulting in mental retardation. These are also excreted through
urine because of poor absorption by kidney.
Thalassemia:
● An autosome-linked recessive blood disease transmitted from parents to the offspring
when both the partners are unaffected carrier (heterozygous) for the gene.
● It is due to mutation or deletion.
● It results in reduced synthesis of one of the globin chains ( & chains) of haemoglobin. It
forms abnormal haemoglobin and causes anaemia.

➔ 𝞪-Thalassemia: Here, production of 𝞪 globin chain is affected. It is controlled

● Based on the chain affected, thalassemia is 2 types:

by two closely linked genes HBA1 & HBA2 on chromosome 16 of each parent.
Mutation or deletion of one or more of the four genes causes the disease. The
more genes affected, the less globin molecules produced.
➔ β-Thalassemia: Here, production of β globin chain is affected. It is controlled by
a single gene HBB on chromosome 11 of each parent. Mutation of one or both
the genes causes the disease.
● Thalassemia is a quantitative problem (synthesise too few globin molecules). Sickle-
cell anaemia is a qualitative problem (synthesise incorrectly functioning globin).
2. Chromosomal disorders
They are caused due to absence or excess or abnormal arrangement of one or more
chromosomes. 2 types:
a. Aneuploidy: The gain or loss of chromosomes due to failure of segregation of chromatids
during cell division.
b. Polyploidy (Euploidy): It is an increase in a whole set of chromosomes due to failure of
cytokinesis after telophase stage of cell division. This is very rare in human but often seen in
plants.
Examples for chromosomal disorders
● Down’s syndrome: It is the presence of an additional copy of chromosome number 21
(trisomy of 21).
Genetic constitution: 45 A + XX or 45 A + XY (i.e. 47 chromosomes).
Features:
➔ They are short statured with small round head.
➔ Broad flat face.
➔ Furrowed big tongue and partially open mouth.
➔ Many “loops” on fingertips.
➔ Palm is broad with characteristic palm crease.
➔ Retarded physical, psychomotor & mental development.
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➔ Congenital heart disease.

● Klinefelter’s Syndrome: It is the presence of an additional copy of X-chromosome in
male (trisomy).
Genetic constitution: 44 A + XXY (i.e. 47 chromosomes).
Features:
➔ Overall masculine development, however, the feminine development is also
expressed. E.g. Development of breast (Gynaecomastia).
➔ Sterile.
➔ Mentally retarded.
● Turner’s syndrome: This is due to the absence of one of the X chromosomes in females
(monosomy).
Genetic constitution: 44 A + X0 (i.e. 45 chromosomes).
Features:
➔ Sterile, Ovaries are rudimentary.
➔ Lack of other secondary sexual characters.
➔ Dwarf.
➔ Mentally retarded

Important Questions:
1. A pure yellow seeded pea plant is crossed to a pure green seeded one. Give the F2
phenotypic ratio.
2. “All test crosses are backcrosses but all backcrosses are not test cross.” Justify.
3. A Dihybrid heterozygous round yellow seeded garden pea was crossed with homozygous
double recessive parent.
a. What type of a cross is this?
b. Represent the cross schematically
c. What is the significance of this cross?
4. A diploid organism is heterozygous for 4 loci, how many types of gametes can be produced?
5. Two heterozygous parents are crossed. If the two loci are linked what would be the
distribution of phenotypic features in F1 generation for a dihybrid cross?
6. Write down the possible genotypes and phenotypes of the young ones in the following
crosses.
a. Father and mother: AB group
b. Father O group mother AB group
c. Father homozygous A group and mother heterozygous B group.
7. Drosophila is an ideal material for genetic study. Why?
8. A man suffering from hemophilia marries a carrier woman. Work out the chances of their
progeny suffering from the disease. Use a flow chart
9. How are the alleles of a gene different from each other? What is its importance?
10. Differentiate between dominance, co-dominance and incomplete dominance.
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11. Define the chromosomal theory of inheritance?

12. Explain Down’s syndrome.
13. A tall plant with red flowers (dominant) is crossed with a dwarf plant with white flowers
(recessive). Work out a dihybrid cross and state the dihybrid ratio. What will be the effect on
the dihybrid ratio if the two genes are interacting with each other?
14. Name the disorder with the following chromosome complement.
a. 22 pairs of autosomes + XXY
b. 22 pairs of autosomes + 21st chromosome + XY
15. What is aneuploidy?
16. What is a test cross?
17. What is mutagen? Give an example.
18. Mention the difference between Turner’s syndrome and Klinefelter’s syndrome.
19. Difference between point mutation and frameshift mutation.
20. Which law of Mendel is universally accepted? State the law.
21. What is pedigree analysis? How is it useful?
22. What are multiple alleles? Give an example.
23. Explain the cause of Klinefelter’s syndrome. Give any four symptoms shown by this
syndrome.
24. How sex is determined in human beings?

Multiple Choice Questions

1. All genes are located on the same chromosome
A. Form different groups depending upon their relative distance.
B. Form one linkage group.
C. Will not form any linkage groups.
D. Form interactive groups that affect the phenotype.
2. Conditions of a karyotype 2n ± 1 and 2n ± 2 are called
A. Aneuploidy C. Allopolyploidy
B. Polyploidy D. Monosomy
3. Distance between the genes and percentage of recombination shows
A. A direct relationship C. A parallel relationship
B. An inverse relationship D. No relationship
4. If a genetic disease is transferred from a phenotypically normal but carrier female to only
some of the male progeny, then the disease is
A. Autosomal dominant C. Sex-linked dominant
B. Autosomal recessive D. Sex-linked recessive
5. In sickle cell anaemia, the glutamic acid is replaced by valine. Which one of the following are
triplet codes for valine?
A. G G G C. G A A
B. A A G D. G U G
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6. A person having genotype IA IB would show the blood group as AB. This is because of
A. Pleiotropy C. Segregation
B. Co-dominance D. Incomplete dominance
7. ZZ/ZW type of sex determination is seen in
A. Platypus C. Cockroach
B. Snails D. Peacock
8. A cross between two tall plants resulted in an offspring having few dwarf plants. What would
be the genotypes of both the parents?
A. TT and Tt C. TT and TT
B. Tt and Tt D. Tt and tt
9. In a dihybrid cross, if you get 9 : 3 : 3 : 1 ratio, it denotes that
A. The alleles of two genes are interacting with each other
B. It is a multigenic inheritance
C. It is a case of multiple allelism
D. The alleles of two genes are segregating independently.
10. Which of the following will not result in variations among siblings?
A. Independent assortment of genes C. Linkage
B. Crossing over D. Mutation
11. Mendel’s Law of independent assortment holds good for genes situated on the
A. Non-homologous chromosomes C. Extra nuclear genetic element
B. Homologous chromosomes D. Same chromosome
12. Occasionally, a single gene may express more than one effect. This phenomenon is called
A. Multiple allelism C. Pleiotropy
B. Mosaicism D. Polygeny
13. In a certain taxon of insects, some have 17 chromosomes and the others have 18
chromosomes. The 17 and 18 chromosome-bearing organisms are
A. Males and females, respectively C. All males
B. Females and males, respectively D. All females
14. The inheritance pattern of a gene over generations among humans is studied by the pedigree
analysis. Character studied in the pedigree analysis is equivalent to
A. Quantitative trait C. Polygenic trait
B. Mendelian trait D. Maternal trait
15. It is said that Mendel proposed that the factor controlling any character is discrete and
independent. His proposition was based on the
A. Results of F3 generation of a cross.
B. Observations that the offspring of a cross made between the plants having two
contrasting characters show only one character without any blending.
C. Self-pollination of F1 offspring.
D. Cross pollination of F1 generations with recessive parental.
16. Two genes ‘A’ and ‘B’ are linked. In a dihybrid cross involving these two genes, the F1
heterozygote is crossed with homozygous’ recessive parental type (aa bb). What would be
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the ratio of offspring in the next generation?

A. 1 : 1 : 1 : 1 C. 3 : 1
B. 9 : 3 : 3 : 1 D. 1 : 1
17. In the F2 generation of a Mendelian dihybrid cross, the number of phenotypes and genotypes
are
A. Phenotypes-4; genotypes-16 C. Phenotypes-4; genotypes-8
B. Phenotypes-9; genotypes-4 D. Phenotypes-4; genotypes-9
18. Mother and father of a person with ‘O’ blood group have ‘A’ and ‘B’ blood group
respectively. What would be the genotype of both mother and father?
A. Mother is homozygous for ‘A’ blood group and the father is heterozygous for ‘B’.
B. Mother is heterozygous for ‘A’ blood group and the father is homozygous for ‘B’.
C. Both mother and father are heterozygous for ‘A’ and ‘B’ blood group, respectively.
D. Both mother and father are homozygous for ‘A’ and ‘B’ blood group, respectively

Key Answers:
1 B 2 A 3 A 4 D 5 D 6 B 7 D 8 B 9 D 10 C
11 B 12 C 13 A 14 B 15 B 16 D 17 D 18 C

MCQs for KCET and NEET:

1. In 1900 CE, three biologists independently discovered Mendel’s principles. They are
A. De Vries, Correns and Tschermak C. Avery, MacLeod and McCarty
B. Sutton, Morgan and Bridges D. Bateson, Punnet and Bridges
2. Which of the following has been used for genetic research?
A. Pisum C. E. coli
B. Neurospora D. All of these
3. The alleles are
A. A pair of genes governing a specific character such as tallness or dwarfness.
B. Multiple forms of genes.
C. Genes governing eye characters.
D. Genes present in allosomes.
4. What is the correct sequence of the following events?
1. Formation of the chromosome theory of heredity.
2. Experiments which proved that DNA is the hereditary material.
3. Mendel’s laws of inheritance—discovery.
A. 1, 3 and 2 C. 3, 1 and 2
B. 1, 2 and 3 D. 2, 1 and 3
5. When a true breeding pea plant that has yellow seeds is pollinated by a plant that has green
seeds, then all the F1 plants have yellow seeds. This means that the allele for yellow is
A. Heterozygous B. Dominant
II PU BIOLOGY VISMAYA CAREER LAUNCHER

C. Recessive D. Lethal
6. An organism’s genetic constitution is called its
A. Genotype C. Holotype
B. Phenotype D. None of these
7. An organism with two identical alleles for a given trait is
A. Homozygous C. Dominant
B. Segregating D. A hermaphrodite
8. The dwarfness in plants of F2 generation is
A. Recessive C. Both (A) and (B)
B. Dominant D. None of these
9. Which of the following is the dominant character according to Mendel?
A. Dwarf plant and yellow fruit
B. Terminal fruit and wrinkled seed
C. White testa and yellow pericarp
D. Green coloured pod and rounded seed
10. The genotype of an individual is Rr Bb. How many different types of gametes will it produce
based on the law of independent assortment?
A. 16 C. 8
B. 9 D. 4
11. Cross between F1 plant and recessive female plant is called
A. Back cross C. Out cross
B. Test cross D. Mutation
12. Which of the following depicts the Mendel’s dihybrid ratio?
A. 3 : 1 C. 9 : 7
B. 9 : 3 : 3 : 1 D. 15 : 1
13. In dihybrid cross, out of 16 plants obtained, the number of genotypes will be
A. 4 C. 16
B. 9 D. 12
14. Pure homozygous offsprings in a dihybrid cross in the F2 generation will be
A. 1/2 C. 1/8
B. 1/4 D. 1/16
15. Mendel crossed a pure white-flowered recessive pea plant with a dominant pure red-flowered
plant. The first generation of hybrids from the cross should show
A. 50 per cent white-flowered and 50 per cent red-flowered plants
B. All red-flowered plants
C. 75 per cent red-flowered and 25 per cent white-flowered plants
D. All white-flowered plants
16. In a monohybrid cross, 120 plants are obtained. The ratio of homozygous and heterozygous
will be
A. 40 : 80 C. 20 : 100
B. 60 : 60 D. 10 : 110
II PU BIOLOGY VISMAYA CAREER LAUNCHER

17. Select the false statement from the following:

A. Mendel for the fi rst time applied statistical analysis and mathematical logics to problems
in biology.
B. Mendel’s experiment had a large sampling size, which gave greater credibility to the data
that he collected.
C. Mendel conducted artifi cial cross-pollination experiment using true-breeding pea lines.
D. Mendel selected 14 true-breeding pea plant varieties, as pairs which were similar except
for two characters with contrasting traits.
18. How many genotypes are formed in Mendelian dihybrid cross?
A. 4 C. 6
B. 9 D. 8
19. Inheritance of ABO blood group system is an example of
A. Multiple allelism C. Epistasis
B. Partial dominance D. Dominance
20. Genotype of blood group ‘A’ will be
A. IAIA C. IAIA or IAIO
B. IBIB D. IAIO
21. If one parent belongs to ‘A’ blood group and the other to ‘O’ blood group, their children
possibly represent
A. A and B groups only C. A and O groups only
B. AB only D. All four groups
22. If a child has O type of blood group and the father has B type, then the genotype of the father
will be
A. IOIO C. IOIB
B. IAIB D. IBIB
23. Rh factor may be responsible for
A. Turner’s syndrome C. Sickle-cell anaemia
B. AIDS D. Erythroblastosis fetalis
24. A human female with blood group ‘A’ has
A. Antibody-anti-B in the red blood cells and antigen A in the serum
B. Antigen A in the red blood cells and antibody-anti-B in the serum
C. Antigen B in the red blood cells and antibody-anti-B in the serum
D. Antigen A in the red blood cells and antibody-anti-A in the serum

25. Rh factor is named after

A. Man C. Monkey
B. Rat D. Chimpanzee
26. Crossing over in diploid organism is responsible for
A. Dominance of genes C. Segregation of alleles
B. Linkage between genes D. Recombination of linked allele
27. The percentage of crossing over will be more if
II PU BIOLOGY VISMAYA CAREER LAUNCHER

A. Linked genes are located far apart from each other

B. Linked genes are located close to each other
C. Genes are not linked
D. Genes are located in a different cell
28. Drosophila has four pairs of chromosomes. How many linkage groups does it have?
A. Eight
B. Four
C. One less than the pairs of chromosomes
D. One more than the pairs of chromosomes
29. Linkage in Drosophila was first discovered by
A. Morgan C. Sturtevant
B. Bateson and Punnett D. Bridges
30. Who coined the term linkage?
A. Mendel C. Sturtevant
B. Tschermak D. T. H. Morgan
31. In humans, the chromosomal condition of male is
A. 44 AA + XO C. 44 AA + XY
B. 44 AA + XX D. 44 AA + XXY
32. Find out the incorrect statement.
A. Morgan carried out several dihybrid crosses in drosophila to study the genes that were
sex linked.
B. Sturtevant used the frequency of recombination between gene pairs on the same
chromosome as a measure of the distance between genes and mapped their position on
chromosome.
C. Henking gave the term X-body.
D. Boveri united the knowledge of chromosomal segregation with Mendelian principles and
called it the chromosomal theory of inheritance.
33.Why is drosophila melanogaster suitable for the study of genetic variation?
A. Could be grown on a simple synthetic medium in the laboratory.
B. Complete life cycle is 2 weeks and single mating produces a large number of progeny
flies.
C. Clear sexual dimorphism is present and many types of heredity variation can be seen with
a low power microscope.
D. All of these
34. X-chromosome is used in the determination of sex; therefore, it is known as
A. Autosomes C. Microsomes
B. Sex chromosomes D. Oxysomes
35. How many chromosomes are present in human male?
A. 22 Pairs + XX C. 22 Pairs + XY
B. 22 Pairs + YY D. 21 Pairs + XY
36. Find out the correct statement.
II PU BIOLOGY VISMAYA CAREER LAUNCHER

A. Genetic makeup of the egg determines the sex of the child in human.
B. Genetic makeup of the sperm determines the sex of the child in human.
C. XO and XY type of sex determination is an example of female heterogamety.
D. Henking (1891) could trace a specific nuclear structure all through oogenesis of few
insects.
37. Mendelian rediscoverers are
A. De Vries, Holland C. Von Tschermak, Austria
B. Correns, Germany D. All of these
38. Predict from the following chart

A. Character is dominant and carried by x chromosome.

B. Character is carried by y chromosome.
C. Character is sex-linked recessive.
D. Character is autosomal recessive.
39. A pedigree is shown below for a disease that is autosomal recessive. The genetic makeup of
the first generation will be

A. AA, aa C. Aa, aa
B. Aa, Aa D. aa, aa
40. Failure of segregation of chromatids during cell division cycles results in the gain or loss of a
chromosome(s) called
A. Aneuploidy C. Trisomy
B. Polyploidy D. Nullisomy
41. The following features belong to which syndrome?
(a) Furrowed tongue
(b) Palm is broad with characteristic palm crease
(c) Physical, psychomotor and mental retardation
(d) Short statured with small round head
A. Down’s syndrome
B. AIDS
C. Turner’s syndrome
D. Klinefelter’s syndrome
42. All are characters of Down’s syndrome except
II PU BIOLOGY VISMAYA CAREER LAUNCHER

A. Congenital heart disease

B. Broad flat face
C. Small and wrinkled tongue
D. Many ‘loops’ on finger tips
43. The substitution of amino acid in the globin protein results due to the single base substitution
at the sixth codon of the beta globin gene from.
A. GAG to GGG
B. CAG to GAG
C. GAG to GUG
D. GGC to GGA
44. Which of the following amino acid is not present in first six amino acids in affected β-chain
of Haemoglobin?
A. Val
B. Thr
C. Glu
D. Leu
45. Diseased phenotype in sickle cell anaemia is shown by which of the following genotype?
A. HbAHbA
B. HbSHbS
C. HbAHbS
D. All of above
46. Genes responsible for ABO blood group determines which of the following biomolecules of
RBC plasma membrane?
A. Phospholipid
B. Proteins
C. Sugars
D. Cholesterols
47. The shape of seed depends on starch granules size; so inheritance of seed shape shows
________ relationship, while inheritance of starch grains show ________.
A. Dominant recessive, codominance
B. Incomplete dominance, codominance
C. Dominant-recessive, incomplete dominance
D. Codominance, incomplete dominance
48. Occasionally, a single gene may express more than one effect. The phenomenon is called
A. Multiple allelism
B. Mosaicism
C. Pleiotropy
D. Polygeny
49. In the F2 generation of a Mendelian dihybrid cross, the number of phenotypes and genotypes
are
A. phenotypes-4; genotypes-16
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B. phenotypes-9; genotypes-4
C. phenotypes-4; genotypes-8
D. phenotypes-4; genotypes-9
50. Mother and father of a person with ‘0’ blood group have ‘A’ and ‘B’ blood group,
respectively. What would be the genotype of both mother and father?
A. Mother is homozygous for ‘A’ blood group and father is heterozygous for ‘B’.
B. Mother is heterozygous for ‘A’ blood group and father is homozygous for ‘B’.
C. Both mother and father are heterozygous for ‘A’ and ‘B’ blood group, respectively.
D. Both mother and father are homozygous for ‘A’ and ‘B’ blood group, respectively.

Key Answers:
1 A 2 D 3 B 4 C 5 B 6 A 7 A 8 B 9 B 10 D
11 D 12 B 13 B 14 B 15 B 16 B 17 D 18 B 19 A 20 C
21 C 22 C 23 D 24 B 25 C 26 D 27 A 28 B 29 A 30 D
31 C 32 D 33 D 34 B 35 C 36 B 37 D 38 C 39 B 40 A
41 A 42 C 43 C 44 C 45 B 46 C 47 C 48 C 49 D 50 C

Assertion and Reason Questions:

Read the assertion and reason carefully to mark the correct option out of the options given
below:
A. If both the assertion and the reason are true and the reason is a correct explanation of the
assertion.
B. If both the assertion and reason are true but the reason is not a correct explanation of the
assertion.
C. If the assertion is true but the reason is false.
D. If both the assertion and reason are false.
1. Assertion: Gregor Mendel conducted the hybridization experiment on garden peas and
proposed the laws of inheritance in living organism.
Reason: Mendel selected 7 true breeding pea plant varieties.
2. Assertion: In a monohybrid cross F1 generation indicates recessive characters.
Reason: Dominance occurs only in homozygous state.
3. Assertion: Gene which code for a pair of contrasting traits are known alleles.
Reason: Alleles are slightly different forms of the same gene.
4. Assertion: The law of dominance is used to explain the expression of only one of the parental
character is a monohybrid cross in the F1 - generation.
Reason: The law of dominance explains the proportion of 3 : 1 obtained at the F2 –
 II PU BIOLOGY VISMAYA CAREER LAUNCHER

generation.
5. Assertion: Deletions and insertions of base pairs of DNA, causes frame-shift mutation.
Reason: A classical example of frame-shift mutation is sickle cell anaemia.
6. Assertion: Increase in a whole set of chromosome in an organism is known as polyploidy.
Reason: Failure of cytokinesis after telophase stage of cell division results in polyploidy.
7. Assertion: Test cross is a back cross.
Reason: In test cross, F1 -individual is crossed with recessive parents.
8. Assertion: Inheritance of holandric gene are always from father to son.
Reason: Holandric genes are found on Y-chromosomes.
9. Assertion: In humans, the gamete contributed by the male determines whether the child
produced will be male or female.
Reason: Sex in human is a polygenic trait depending upon a cumulative effect of some gene
on X-chromosomes and some on Y-chromosomes.
10. Assertion: In birds, the chromosome composition of the sperm determines the sex.
Reason: Male birds are heterogametic.
11. Assertion: Down’s syndrome is chromosomal disorder
Reason: It occurs due to trisomy of 21 chromosome.
12. Assertion: Female of Turner’s syndrome is sterile.
Reason: Such female contain rudimentary ovaries.
13. Assertion: PKU leads to mental retardation
Reason: Phenylpyruvic acid and their derivatives are accumulated in brain in PKU.
14. Assertion: Sickle cell anaemia is an example of point mutation.
Reason: It occur due change in single nucleotide in beta gene.
15. Assertion: Cystic fibrosis is Mendelian disorder .
Reason: Tuners syndrome is chromosomal disorder.
16. Assertion: Haemophilia is commonly found in males.
Reason: Haemophilia is X- linked recessive disorder.
17. Assertion: UV radiation is mutagen.
Reason: UV radiation can cause mutation in organism.
18. Assertion: Genetic make up of sperm determines the sex of human child.
Reason: Males are homogametic in humans.
19. Assertion: Starch grain size is controlled by gene B in pea seed is an example of incomplete
dominance.
Reason: Starch grain formed by genetic constitution Bb is of intermediate size.

Key Answers:
1 C 2 D 3 A 4 B 5 C 6 B 7 A 8 A 9 B 10 B
11 D 12 A 13 A 14 A 15 A 16 B 17 A 18 A 19 C 20 A
II PU BIOLOGY VISMAYA CAREER LAUNCHER

Previous Year Questions:

1. Study the pedigree chart of a certain family given in figure and select the correct conclusion
which can be drawn for the character.

A. The female parent is heterozygous.

B. The parents could not have had a normal daughter for this character.
C. The trait under study could not be colour blindness.
D. The male parent is homozygous dominant.
2. In Antirrhinum, two plants with pink flowers were hybridized. The F1 plants produced red,
pink and white flowers in the proportion of 1 red, 2 pink and 1 white. What could be the
genotype of the two plants used for hybridization of Red flower colour is determined by RR,
and white by rr genes?
A. rrrr C. Rr
B. RR D. rr
3. A cross in which an organism showing a dominant phenotype is crossed with the recessive
parent in order to know its genotype is called
A. Monohybrid cross C. Test cross
B. Back cross D. Dihybrid cross
4. ABO blood grouping is controlled by gene I which has three alleles and show co-dominance.
There are six genotypes. How many phenotypes in all are possible?
A. Six C. Four
B. Three D. Five
5. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster was found to be very suitable for experimental
verification of chromosomal theory of inheritance by Morgan and his colleagues because
A. It reproduces parthenogenetically.
B. A single mating produces two young flies.
C. Smaller female is easily recognisable from larger male.
D. It completes the life cycle in about two weeks.
6. Which one of the following cannot be explained on the basis of Mendel’s Law of Dominance?
A. The discrete unit controlling a particular character is called a factor.
B. Out of one pair of factors one is dominant and the other recessive.
C. Alleles do not show any blending and both the characters recover as such in F2
generation.
D. Factors occur in pairs.
7. The genotype of a plant showing the dominant phenotype can be determined by
A. Test cross C. Pedigree analysis
B. Dihybrid cross D. Back cross
II PU BIOLOGY VISMAYA CAREER LAUNCHER

8. ABO blood groups in humans are controlled by the gene I. It has three alleles - lA, IB and i.
Since there are three different alleles, six different genotypes are possible. How many
phenotypes can occur?
A. Three C. Four
B. One D. Two
9. Select the correct statement from the ones given below with respect to dihybrid cross.
A. Tightly linked genes on the same chromosome show higher recombinations.
B. Genes far apart on the same chromosome shows very few recombinations.
C. Genes loosely linked on the same chromosome show similar recombinations as the
tightly linked ones.
D. Tightly linked genes on the same chromosome show very few recombinations
10. Which one of the following conditions correctly describes the manner of determining the sex
in the given example?
A. XO type of sex chromosomes determine male sex in grasshopper.
B. XO condition in humans as found in Turner syndrome, determines female sex.
C. Homozygous sex chromosomes (XX) produce male in Drosophila.
D. Homozygous sex chromosomes (ZZ) determine female sex in birds
11. A collection of plants and seeds, having diverse alleles of all the genes of a crop is called
A. Germplasm C. Genome
B. Gene library D. Herbarium
12. When two unrelated individuals or lines are crossed, the performance of F1 hybrid is often
superior to both its parents. This phenomenon is called
A. Transformation C. Metamorphosis
B. Splicing D. Heterosis
13. Test cross in plants or in Drosophila involves crossing
A. Between two genotypes with recessive trait
B. Between two F1 hybrids
C. The F1 hybrid with a double recessive genotype
D. Between two genotype with dominant trait
14. Which one of the following conditions of the zygotic cell would lead to the birth of a normal
human female child?
A. Two X chromosomes C. Only one X chromosome
B. Only one Y chromosome D. One X and one Y chromosome
15. Read the following four statements (a to d):
(a) In transcription, adenine pairs with uracil.
(b) Regulation of lac operon by repressor is referred to as positive regulation.
(c) The human genome has approximately 50,000 genes.
(d) Haemophilia is a sex-linked recessive disease.
How many of the above statements are right?
A. 3 C. 1
B. 4 D. 2
II PU BIOLOGY VISMAYA CAREER LAUNCHER

16. A test cross is carried out to

A. Predict whether two traits are linked.
B. Assess the number of alleles of a gene.
C. Determine whether two species or varieties will breed successfully.
D. Determine the genotype of a plant at F2 .
17. A normal-visioned man whose father was colour blind, marries a woman whose father was
also colour blind. They have their first child as a daughter. What are the chances that this
a child would be colour blind?
A. 100% C. 25%
B. 0% D. 50%
18. F2 generation in a Mendelian cross showed that both genotypic and phenotypic rations are
same as 1 : 2 : 1. It represents a case of
A. Co-dominance
B. Dihybrid cross
C. Monohybrid cross with complete dominance
D. Monohybrid cross with incomplete dominance
19. Which of the following statements is not true of two genes that shows 50 per cent
recombination frequency?
A. The genes may be on different chromosomes.
B. The genes are tightly linked.
C. The genes show independent assortment.
D. If the genes are present on the same chromosome, they undergo more than one crossovers
in every meiosis.
20. Variation in gene frequencies within populations can occur by change rather than by natural
selection. This is referred to as
A. Genetic flow C. Random mating
B. Genetic drift D. Genetic load
21. If two persons with ‘AB’ blood group marry and have sufficiently large number of children,
these children could be classified as ‘A’ blood group : ‘AB’ blood group : ‘B’ blood group in
1 : 2 : 1 ratio. Modern technique of protein electrophoresis reveals the presence of both ‘A’
and ‘B’ type proteins in ‘AB’ blood group individuals. This is an example of
A. Codominance C. Partial dominance
B. Incomplete dominance D. Complete dominance
22. Which Mendelian idea is depicted by a cross in which the F1 generation resembles both the
parents?
A. Incomplete dominance C. Inheritance of one gene
B. Law of dominance D. Codominance
23. The incorrect statement with regard to haemophilia is
A. It is a sex-linked disease
B. It is a recessive disease
C. It is a dominant disease
II PU BIOLOGY VISMAYA CAREER LAUNCHER

D. A single protein involved in the clotting of blood is affected

24. If both parents are carriers for thalassemia, which is an autosomal recessive disorder, what
are the chances of pregnancy resulting in an affected child?
A. No chance C. 25%
B. 50% D. 100%
25. Fruit colour in squash is an example of
A. Recessive epistasis C. Complementary genes
B. Dominant epistasis D. Inhibitory genes
26. A man whose father was colour blind marries a woman who had a colour blind mother and
normal father. What percentage of male children of this couple will be colour blind?
A. 25% C. 50%
B. 0% D. 75%
27. In a population of 1000 individuals 360 belong to genotype AA, 480 to Aa and the remaining
160 to aa. Based on this data, the frequency of allele A in the population is
A. 0.4 C. 0.6
B. 0.5 D. 0.7
28. A human female with Turner’s syndrome
A. Has 45 chromosomes with XO
B. Has one additional X chromosome
C. Exhibits male characters
D. Is able to produce children with normal husband
29. How many pairs by contrasting characters in pea plants was studied by Mendel in his
experiments?
A. 5 C. 8
B. 6 D. 7

30. The movement of a gene from one linkage group to another is called
A. Inversion C. Translocation
B. Duplication D. Crossing over
31. Multiple alleles are present
A. On different chromosomes
B. At different location in the same chromosome
C. At the same locus of the chromosome
D. On non-sister chromatids
32. An abnormal human baby with ‘XXX’ sex chromosomes was born due to
A. Formation of abnormal sperms in the father
B. Formation of abnormal ova in the mother
C. Fusion of two ova and one sperm
D. Fusion two sperms and one ovum
33. Alleles are:
A. Different phenotype B. True breeding homozygous
II PU BIOLOGY VISMAYA CAREER LAUNCHER

C. Different molecular forms of a gene D. Heterozygotes

34. A man with blood group ‘A’ marries a woman with blood group ‘B’. which are all the
possible blood groups of their offsprings?
A. A and B only C. A, B, AB and O
B. A, B and AB only D. O only
35. A pleiotropic gene:
A. Is a gene evolved during Pliocene
B. Controls a trait only in combination with another gene
C. Controls multiple traits in an individual
D. Is expressed only in primitive plants
36. A gene showing codominance has:
A. Alleles tightly linked on the same chromosome
B. Alleles that are recessive to each other
C. Both alleles independently expressed in the heterozygote
D. One allele dominant on the other
37. A colour blind man marries a woman with normal sight who has no history of colour
blindness in her family. What is the probability of their grandson being colour blind?
A. 1 C. 0.25
B. Nil D. 0.5
38. The term “linkage” was coined by:
A. T. Boveri C. W. Sutton
B. G. Mendel D. T.H. Morgan
39. In the following human pedigree, the filled symbols represent the affected individual.
Identify the type of given pedigree.

A. X-linked recessive C. X-linked dominant

B. Autosomal recessive D. Autosomal dominant
40. Which of the following most appropriately describes haemophilia?
A. Recessive gene disorder C. Chromosomal disorder
B. X–linked recessive gene disorder D. Dominant gene disorder
41. A tall true breeding garden pea plant is crossed with a dwarf true breeding garden pea plant.
II PU BIOLOGY VISMAYA CAREER LAUNCHER

When the F1 plants were selfed the resulting genotypes were in the ratio of:
A. 1:2:1: Tall homozygous: Tall heterozygous : Dwarf
B. 1:2:1: Tall heterozygous: Tall homozygous: Dwarf
C. 3 : 1 : : Tall Dwarf
D. 3 : 1 : : Dwarf : Tall
42. Match the terms in Column I with their description in Column II and choose the correct
option:
Column I Column II
(a) Dominance (i) Many genes govern a single character
(b) Codominance (ii) In a heterozygous organism only one allele expresses
itself.
(c) Pleiotropy (iii) In a heterozygous organisms both alleles express
themselves fully
(d) Polygenic inheritance (iv) A single gene influences many characters
Options:
(a) (b) (c) (d)
A. ii i iv iii
B. ii iii iv i
C. iv i ii iii
D. iv iii i ii
43. Pick out the correct statements:
(i) Haemophilia is a sex-linked recessive disease.
(ii) Down’s syndrome is due to aneuploidy.
(iii) Phenylketonuria is an autosomal recessive gene disorder.
(iv) Sickle cell anaemia is an X-linked recessive gene disorder.
A. i and iv are correct C. i, iii and iv are correct
B. ii and iv are correct D. i, ii and iii are correct
44. The amino acid Tryptophan is the precursor for the synthesis of:
A. Melatonin and Serotonin C. Estrogen and Progesterone
B. Thyroxine and Triiodothyronine D. Cortisol and Cortisone
45. In a testcross involving F1 dihybrid flies, more parental-type offspring were produced the
recombinant-type offspring. This indicates:
A. The two genes are located on two different chromosomes
B. Chromosomes failed to separate during meiosis
C. The two genes are linked and present on the same chromosome
D. Both of the characters are controlled by more than one gene
46. A cell at telophase stage is observed by a student in a plant brought from the field. He tells
his teacher that this cell is not like other cells at telophase stage. There is no formation of cell
plate and thus the cell is containing more number of chromosomes as compared to other,
dividing cells. This would result in:
A. Aneuploidy B. Polyploidy
 II PU BIOLOGY VISMAYA CAREER LAUNCHER

C. Somaclonal variation D. Polyteny

47. Taylor conducted the experiments to prove semi conservative mode of chromosome
replication on
A. Vicia faba C. E. coli
B. Drosophila melanogaster D. Vinca rosea
48. The mechanism that causes a gene o move from the linkage group to another is called.
A. Duplication C. Crossing over
B. Translocation D. Inversion
49. A true breeding plant is
A. Produced due to cross-pollination among unrelated plants
B. Near homozygous and produces offspring of its own kind
C. Always homozygous recessive in this genetic constitution
D. One that is able to breed on its own
50. If a colour-blind man marries a woman who is homozygous for normal colour vision, the
probability of their son being colour-blind is
A. 0.5 C. 1
B. 0.75 D. 0

Key Answers:
1 A 2 C 3 C 4 C 5 D 6 C 7 A 8 C 9 D 10 A
11 A 12 D 13 C 14 A 15 D 16 A 17 B 18 D 19 B 20 B
21 A 22 D 23 C 24 C 25 B 26 C 27 C 28 A 29 D 30 C
31 C 32 B 33 C 34 C 35 C 36 C 37 B 38 D 39 D 40 B
41 A 42 B 43 D 44 A 45 C 46 B 47 B 48 B 49 B 50 D

MCQs for Practice:

1. Choose the incorrect statement from the following.
A. Humans knew from very early that sexual reproduction is one of the causes of variation.
B. They exploited the variation to obtain plants and animals of desirable characters through
selective breeding.
II PU BIOLOGY VISMAYA CAREER LAUNCHER

C. Sahiwal cows were obtained through artificial selection and domestication from ancestral
wild cows.
D. Our ancestors were very well aware about the scientific basis of inheritance of characters
and variation.
2. Who proposed the ‘Laws of Inheritance’ in living organisms?
A. Mendel C. de Vries
B. Morgan D. Correns
3. Match Column-I with Column-II and choose the correct answer from the codes given below.
Column-I Column-II
(a) Genetics (i) Process of passing characters from parent to offspring
(b) Inheritance (ii) Laws of inheritance
(c) Variation (iii) A branch of Biology
(d) Mendel (iv) Degree of difference of progeny from their parents
a b c d
A. i iv ii iii
B. iv ii iii i
C. iii i iv ii
D. ii iii i iv
4. How many pairs of contrasting characters in pea plants were studied by Mendel in his
experiments?
A. Six C. Seven
B. Eight D. Four
5. Among the following, which one is not a dominating trait?
A. Axial position of flower C. Violet colour of flower
B. Green colour of pod D. Green colour of seed
6. Which technique was used by Mendel during his experiments on pea plant?
A. Artificial pollination C. Self-pollination
B. Cross pollination D. All of these
7. Choose the correct statement(s) from the following.
(I) During Mendel’s investigation, statistical analysis and mathematical logic were applied to
problems in Biology.
(II) Mendel investigated characters in the garden pea plant that were manifested as two
opposing traits.
(III) Mendel conducted artificial pollination experiments using several true-breeding pea lines.
(IV) Mendel selected eight true-breeding pea plant varieties as pairs.
A. I and II C. I, II and III
B. III and IV D. All of these
8. When Mendel crossed true-breeding tall and dwarf plants, in F1-generation all tall plants were
obtained. On self-crossing in the F2 generation, he obtained
A. 1/4th dwarf and 3/4th tall plants C. 2/4th dwarf and 2/4th tall plants
B. 3/4th dwarf and 1/4th tall plants D. All dwarf plants
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9. The slightly different forms of the same genes are called

A. genome C. allele
B. DNA D. cistron
10. A cross that is performed for the study of a single character is
A. dihybrid cross C. monohybrid cross
B. test cross D. back cross
11. In the test cross, organism whose genotype is to be determined, is crossed with the
A. recessive parent C. both parents one by one
B. dominant parent D. none of these
12. The second law of inheritance, i.e., law of segregation is based on the fact that
A. alleles do not show any blending.
B. both characters are recovered as such in F2 generation.
C. one allele dominates the other allele.
D. Both (A) and (B)
13. In Antirrhinum (Snapdragon), a red flower was crossed with a white flower and in F1
generation, pink flowers were obtained. When pink flowers were selfed, the F2 generation
showed white, red and pink flowers. Choose the incorrect statement from the following.
A. The experiment does not follow the principle of dominance.
B. Pink colour in F1 is due to incomplete dominance.
C. Ratio of F2 is ¼ (Red): 2/4 (Pink): ¼ (white).
D. Law of segregation does not apply in this experiment.
14. A person has ‘O’ blood group. His mother has ‘A’ while father has ‘B’ blood group. What
would be the genotype of mother and father?
A. Mother is homozygous for ‘A’ blood group and father is heterozygous for ‘B’ blood
group.
B. Mother is heterozygous for ‘A’ blood group and father is homozygous for ‘B’ blood
group.
C. Both mother and father are homozygous for ‘A’ and ‘B’ blood groups respectively.
D. Both mother and father are heterozygous for ‘A’ and ‘B’ blood groups respectively.
15. Which of the following characteristics represent ‘inheritance of blood groups’ in humans?
(I) Dominance (IV) Incomplete dominance
(II) Co-dominance (V) Polygenic inheritance
(III) Multiple dominance
A. II, III and V C. II, IV and V
B. I, II and III D. I, III and V
16. A man with blood group ‘A’ marries a woman with blood ‘B’. What are all possible blood
groups of their offsprings?
A. A, B and AB only C. O only
B. A, B, AB and O D. A and B only
17. Genes A and B are linked. The F1 heterozygote of a dihybrid cross involving these genes is
crossed with homozygous recessive parental type (aabb). What would be the ratio of
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offspring in the next generation?

A. 1: 1 C. 9: 3: 3: 1
B. 1: 1: 1: 1 D. 3: 1
18. Mendel’s results on the inheritance of characters were rediscovered by:
A. de Vries C. von Tschermak
B. Correns D. all of these
19. Among the following, who noted that the behaviour of chromosomes was parallel to the
behavior of genes?
A. Walter Sutton C. Von Tschermak
B. Theodore Boveri D. Both (A) and (B)
20. The chromosomal theory of inheritance was proposed by
A. Sutton C. Morgan
B. Boveri D. Both (A) and (B)
21. Match Column-I with Column-II and choose the correct option from the codes given below.
Column-I Column-II
(A) Mendel (1) Rediscovery of Mendel’s law
(B) Correns, Tschermak and Vries (2) Worked on Drosophila melanogaster
(C) Sutton and Boveri (3) Law of independent assortment
(D) T. H. Morgan (4) Chromosomal theory of inheritance

A B C D
A. 3 1 4 2
B. 1 4 3 2
C. 2 3 1 4
D. 4 2 3 1
22. Morgan performed his experiments on
A. Garden pea C. Snapdragon
B. Drosophila D. None of these
23. When two genes are located on the same chromosome, the proportion of parental gene
combination is
A. higher than non-parental C. equal to non-parental
B. lower than non-parental D. None of these
24. Among the following which will not cause variations among siblings?
A. Linkage C. Crossing over
B. Independent assortment of genes D. Mutation
25. Which type of sex determination is found in grasshoppers?
A. XX – XY type C. ZZ – ZW type
B. XX – XO type D. None of these
26. In a specific taxon of insects, some possess 17 chromosomes while others have 18
chromosomes. These 17 and 18 chromosomes bearing organisms are
A. All males B. All females
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C. Females and males, respectively D. Males and females, respectively

27. In Drosophila, males possess
A. XO chromosomes C. XY chromosomes
B. XX chromosomes D. YY chromosomes
28. Match Column-I with Column-II and choose the correct option from the codes given below.
Column-I Column-II
(A) X-body (1) Autosomes
(B) X and Y chromosome (2) Henking
(C) Somatic chromosome (3) Grasshopper
(D) XO-types of sex determination (4) Allosomes
A B C D
A. 2 4 1 3
B. 4 2 1 3
C. 3 1 4 2
D. 1 3 2 4
29. Choose the incorrect statement about XY type of sex determination.
A. Both males and females have same number of chromosomes.
B. The counter part of X chromosome is distinctly smaller and called Y chromosome.
C. Males and females possess different number of autosomes.
D. This type of sex determination is found in Drosophila.
30. Male heterogamety is found in
A. grasshopper C. humans
B. Drosophila D. all of these
31. ZZ/ZW type of sex determination is the characteristics feature of
A. platypus
B. snails
C. peacock
D. cockroach
32. Match the items of Column I with Column II.
Column-I Column-II
(A) XX-XO method of sex determination (1) Turner’s syndrome
(B) XX-XY method of sex determination (2) Female heterogametic
(C) Karyotype-45 (3) Grasshopper
(D) ZW-ZZ method of sex determination (4) Female homogametic
A B C D
A. 4 2 1 3
B. 2 4 1 3
C. 1 4 2 3
D. 3 4 1 2
33. Select the incorrect statement.
A. Male fruit fly is heterogametic.
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B. In male grasshoppers, 50% of sperms have no sex chromosome.

C. In domesticated fowls, sex of progeny depends on the type of sperm rather than egg.
D. Human males have one of their sex chromosome much shorter than the other.
34. Chromosomal aberrations are commonly observed in
A. cardiac cells C. skeletal cells
B. cancer cells D. none of these
35. A classical example of point mutation is
A. gout C. sickle cell anaemia
B. night blindness D. Turner’s syndrome
36. The factors that cause mutations are called
A. mutagens C. allergens
B. teratogens D. none of these
37. Pedigree analysis is used to study the inheritance pattern of a gene over generations. The
character that is studied in the pedigree analysis is equivalent to
A. Mendelian trait C. Polygenic trait
B. Maternal trait D. Quantitative trait

38. Among the following which one is a Mendelian disorder?

A. Haemophilia C. Cystic fibrosis
B. Sickle cell anaemia D. All of these
39. A genetic disease transmitted from a carrier female that is phenotypically normal to only
some male progeny is
A. sex-linked dominant C. autosomal dominant
B. sex-linked recessive D. autosomal recessive
40. Haemophilia is a/an
A. sex-linked recessive disease C. autosomal recessive disease
B. sex-linked dominant disease D. autosomal dominant disease
41. Sickle cell anaemia is a/an
A. sex-linked recessive disease C. autosomal recessive disease
B. sex-linked dominant disease D. autosomal dominant disease
42. In sickle cell anaemia, valine replaces glutamic acid. This valine is coded by the triplet
A. AAG C. GUG
B. GGG D. GAA
43. Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA) is transferred from parents to offspring when
A. father is affected and mother is C. father is normal and mother is
normal. affected.
B. father is normal and mother is D. both mother and father are carrier.
carrier.
44. Thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia are caused due to a problem in globin molecule
synthesis. Select the correct statement.
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A. Both are due to a quantitative defect in globin chain synthesis.

B. Thalassemia is due to less synthesis of globin molecules.
C. Sickle cell anaemia is due to quantitative problem of globin molecules.
D. Both are due to qualitative defect in globin chain synthesis.
45. The person suffering from phenylketonuria disease lacks enzyme
A. phenylalanine hydroxylase C. enolase
B. phosphates D. none of these
46. If a colourblind man marries a women who is homozygous for normal colour vision, the
probability of their son being colour blind is
A. 0.75 C. 0
B. 1 D. 0.525
47. Condition of having 2n ± 1 or 2n ± 2 chromosomes is called
A. polyploidy C. allopolyploidy
B. aneuploidy D. monosomy
48. The disease caused by the trisomy of chromosome number 21 is
A. Turner’s syndrome C. Klinefelter’s syndrome
B. Haemophilia D. Down’s syndrome
49. An abnormal human baby with ‘XXX’ sex chromosomes was born due to
A. formation of abnormal ova in the mother.
B. fusion of two ova and one sperm.
C. fusion of two sperms and one ovum.
D. formation of abnormal sperms in the father
50. A disorder caused due to the absence of one of the X chromosomes is
A. Turner’s syndrome C. Klinefelter’s syndrome
B. Down’s syndrome D. Edward’s syndrome

Key Answers:
1 D 2 A 3 C 4 C 5 D 6 D 7 C 8 A 9 C 10 C
11 A 12 D 13 D 14 D 15 B 16 B 17 B 18 D 19 D 20 D
21 A 22 B 23 A 24 A 25 B 26 D 27 C 28 A 29 C 30 D
31 C 32 D 33 C 34 B 35 C 36 A 37 A 38 D 39 D 40 A
41 C 42 C 43 D 44 B 45 A 46 C 47 B 48 D 49 A 50 A