DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL JAMNAGAR

Notes

Grade: X Subject: Biology

Topic: Chapter 9 (Heredity and evolution) Date: 1.6.08.2023
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Genetic Terminology
1. Gene: Mendel used the term factor for a gene. A gene is the unit of DNA responsible for
the inheritance of a character. Gene is segment of chromosome/DNA responsible for
inheritance of one character.
2. Allele: Two alternatives forms of a gene of the same character e.g., TT/tt.
3. Heterozygous: The organism in which both the form of genes of a character are unlike e.g.,
Tt.
4. Homozygous: The organism in which both the forms of gene (alleles) of a character are
similar e.g., TT, tt.
5. Dominant gene: The gene which expresses itself in F1 generation is known as dominant
gene and it expresses itself both in homozygous and heterozygous conditions.
6. Recessive gene: The gene which is unable to express itself in presence of the dominant
Gene and is always expressed in homozygous condition.
7. Genotype: It is the genetic constitution of an organism which determines the characters.
8. Phenotype: It is the physical appearance of an individual.
9. Micro-evolution: It is the evolution which is on a small scale.
10. Species: A group of similar individuals within a population that can interbreed among
themselves to produce fertile offspring.
11. Chromosome: Rod like structures present in the nucleus of a cell, containing hereditary
information of the cell. Seen only when the cell is in dividing stage
12. Chromatin: Entangled thread like structure present in nucleus.
13. DNA: Deoxyribo Nucleic Acid. It is a heredity/genetic material. It is present in
chromosomes and is passed from one generation to the next.
14. Evolution: Slow and Gradual process in which complex forms arise from the simple ones by
accumulation of changes.
15. Variations: Differences seen between the individuals of same species.
Example: Free ear lobes and attached ear lobes are two variants found in human
populations.
Importance of Variation:
Depending upon the nature of variations different individuals would have different kinds of
advantage. Example, Bacteria that can withstand heat will survive better in a heat wave.
(i) Main advantage of variation to species is that it increases the chances of its
survival in a changing environment.
(ii) Helps in formation of new species and evolution.

Mendel and His Work on Inheritance

 Gregor Johann Mendel (1822 & 1884): Started his experiments on plant breeding
and hybridisation. He proposed the laws of inheritance in living organisms.
 Mendel was known as Father of Genetics.
 Plant selected by Mendel: Pisum sativum

Mendel’s Experimental Material: He chose Garden Pea (Pisum sativum) as his experiment material
because of: (i) Availability of detectable contrasting traits of several characters.
(ii) Short life span of the plant.
(iii) Normally allows self-fertilization but cross-fertilization can also be carried out.
(iv) Large no. of seeds produced.
Monohybrid Cross
 The cross in which we study the inheritance of only one pair of contrasting characters.
 Example: between two pea plants with one pair of contrasting characters is called a
monohybrid cross. Example: Cross between a tall and a dwarf plant (short): Height of Plant

Observations of Monohybrid Cross

(i) All F1 progeny were tall, no medium height plant. (Half way characteristic)
(ii) F2 progeny ¼ were short, ¾ were tall.
(iii) Phenotypic ratio F2 = 3: 1 (3 tall: 1 short)
Conclusions
1. TT and Tt both are tall plants while tt is a short plant.
2. A single copy of T is enough to make the plant tall, while both copies have to be ‘t’ for the
plant to be short.
3. Characters/traits like ‘T’ are called dominant trait (because it expresses itself) and ‘t’ are
recessive trait (because it remains suppressed).

MENDEL EXPLAINED LAW OF DONINANCE (FIRST LAW) AND LAW OF SEGGREGATION

(SECOND LAW) WITH THE HELP OF THIS CROSS.

Dihybrid Cross
A cross between two plants having two pairs of contrasting characters is called dihybrid cross.

F 2 Phenotypic Ratio:

Observations
(i) When RRyy was crossed with rrYY in F1 generation all were RrYy round and yellow seeds.
(ii) Self-pollination of F1 plants gave parental phenotype and two mixtures (recombinants
round yellow and wrinkled green) seeds plants in the ratio of 9: 3: 3: 1.
Conclusions
(i) Round and yellow seeds are Dominant characters.
(ii) Occurrence of new phenotype combinations show that genes for round and yellow seeds
HOW TRAITS ARE EXPRESSED
Genes control the expression of a trait or a character in an organism. Genes produces proteins.
The proteins act as enzymes which can directly control a character or help in the formation of a
hormone which can control the expression of a particular character

 Cellular DNA is the source of information for making proteins in the cell.
 The segment of DNA responsible for one character (making protein) is called gene.
 For example, the height of a plant depends on the hormone.
 The amount of hormone depends on the process of its formation.
 A protein(enzyme) is important for this process.
 If this protein (enzyme) works efficiently a lot of hormones will be made and the plant
will be tall.
 If the gene responsible for that protein has an alteration, this will make the protein less
efficient.
 The amount of hormone will be less and the plant will be short. Thus, traits get expressed.

SEX DETERMINATION in Organisms

Process by which sex of organisms can be determined.

Sex Chromosomes: In human beings, there are 23 pairs of chromosomes. Out of these
22 chromosomes pairs are called autosomes and there is one pair of chromosomes that
help in deciding gender of the individual and is called sex chromosome.

Sex chromosomes in females is homogametic (as same types of gamates are formed in
females where as males are heterogametic as their produces two different types of
gametes (one type of sperm containing Y chromosome and other having X chromosome).
This shows that half the children will be boys (50 %) and half will be girls (50 %). There
are Equal chances of having boys and girls. All children will inherit an X chromosome from
their mother regardless whether they are boys or girls. Thus, sex of children will be
determined by what they inherit from their father, and not from their mother.

Laws of Mendel
1) Law of Dominance: It states 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 both homozygous and
heterozygous condition. The alleles that are suppressed are called the recessive traits while the
alleles that determine the trait are known as the dominant traits.

2) Law of Segregation: The law of segregation states that during the production of gametes,
two copies of each hereditary factor segregate (separate) so that offspring acquire one factor
from each parent. In other words, allele (alternative form of the gene) pairs segregate during the
formation of gamete and re-unite randomly during fertilization.
OR
The law of segregation states that every individual possesses two alleles and only one allele is
passed on to the offspring.

3) Law of Independent Assortment: he law of independent assortment states that the

inheritance of one pair of genes is independent of inheritance of another pair. The traits can
segregate independently of different characters during gamete formation.
Mendel explained this law with the help of Dihybrid Cross.

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, so 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,
dancing skills 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: Hair colour, Height, skin colour and eye colour.

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