Heredity

Q1. If a trait A exists in 10% of a population of an asexually reproducing species and

a trait B exists in 60% of the same population, which trait is likely to have arisen
earlier?

Ans: Trait B, because it is present in more members of the population. It is likely to

have arisen earlier and has now spread to 60% of the population. Trait A is new and
has spread to only 10% of the population.

Q2. How does the creation of variations in a species promote survival?

Ans: Sometimes for a species, the environmental conditions change so drastically

that their survival becomes difficult. For example, if the temperature of water
increases suddenly, most of the bacteria living in that water would die. Only few
variants resistant to heat would be able to survive. If these variants were not there,
then the entire species of bacteria would have been destroyed. Thus, these variants
help in the survival of the species.

However, not all variations are useful. Therefore, these are not necessarily beneficial
for the individual organisms.

Q3. How do Mendel’s experiments show that traits may be dominant or recessive?

Ans: Mendel selected true breeding tall (TT) and dwarf (tt) pea plants. Then, he
crossed these two plants. The seeds formed after fertilization were grown and these
plants that were formed represent the first filial or F1 generation. All the F1 plants
obtained were tall.

Then, Mendel self-pollinated the F1 plants and observed that all plants obtained in
the F2 generation were not tall. Instead, one-
fourth of the F2 plants were short.
From this experiment, Mendel concluded that the
F1 tall plants were not true breeding. They were
carrying traits of both short height and tall
height. They appeared tall only because the tall
trait is dominant over the dwarf trait.
Q4. How do Mendel’s experiments show that traits are inherited independently?
Ans: Independent inheritance of traits is proved by employing dihybrid crosses and
obtaining dihybrid ratios.
Mendel crossed pure breeding tall plants having round seeds (TTRR) with pure
breeding short plants having wrinkled seeds (ttrr).
The plants of F1 generation were all tall and with rounded seeds (TtRr) indicating
that the characteristics of tallness and round seededness were dominant.
Self breeding of F1 yielded, plants in the ratio of 9 tall round seeded, 3 tall wrinkled
seeded, 3 short round seeded and one short wrinkled seeded.
Tall wrinkled seeded and short round seeded plants are new combinations which can
develop only if the traits are inherited independently.
If the two traits are considered individually, F2 ratio would be same as for
monohybrid crosses, i.e., 12 tall : 4 short, 12 round seeded : 4 wrinkled seeded.

TR, Tr, rR, tr x TR, Tr, rR, tr Gametes

9 tall rounded: 3 tall wrinkled: 3 short rounded: 1 short wrinkled

Independent inheritance of two different traits

In the above cross, more than two factors are involved, and these are independently
inherited.

Q5: A man with blood group A marries a woman with blood group O and their
daughter has blood group O. Is this information enough to tell you which of the
traits − blood group A or O − is dominant? Why or why not?
Ans: No. This information is not sufficient to determine which of the traits − blood
group A or O − is dominant. This is because we do not know about the blood group of
all the progeny.

Blood group A can be genotypically AA or AO. Hence, the information is incomplete

to draw any such conclusion.

Q6. A Mendelian experiment consisted of breeding tall pea plants bearing violet
flowers with short pea plants bearing white flowers. The progeny all bore violet
flowers, but almost half of them were short. This suggests that the genetic makeup
of the tall parent can be depicted as

(a) TTWW

(b) TTww

(c) TtWW

(d) TtWw

Solution:

Correct answer – (c)

TtWW might be the genetic makeup of the tall parent. Since half the progenies are
short, this implies that the parent plant also will have a collection of short genes; all
progenies bore violet flowers, further suggesting that violet colour is dominant over
white.

Q7.How is the sex of the child determined in human beings ?

OR

“The sex of a newborn child is a matter of chance and none of the parents may be
considered responsible for it.” Justify this statement with the help of a flow chart
showing determination of sex of a newborn. [CBSE (Delhi) 2013]

Ans: Half of the male gametes (sperms) carry X chromosome and other half carry Y
chromosomes. All the female gametes carry only X chromosomes. When a sperm
fertilizes an egg, the following situations become possible.
 1. (i) When a sperm carrying X chromosome fertilises an egg that contains
only X chromosome), the resulting zygote develops into a female (XX
condition).
2. (ii) When a sperm carrying Y chromosome fertilises an egg (that contains
only X chromosome), the resulting zygote develops into a male (XY
condition).

Thus there are 50 – 50 chances of a male or female child and none of the parents
may Sex determination in humans be considered responsible for it.

Q8. A study found that children with light coloured eyes are likely to have parents
with light coloured eyes. On this basis, can we say anything about whether the light
eye colour trait is dominant or recessive ? Why or why not ?

Ans: This information is not complete. On the basis of this, it cannot be decided light
colour trait is dominant or recessive. So it cannot be said until one does not know the
nature of this trait in the parents.