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 UNIT II Heredity:
Inheritance and Variation of
Traits
What is inheritance?
Inheritance, is related to
genetics, refers to a trait or
variants encoded in DNA and
passed from parent to
offspring during
reproduction.
THE STRUCTURE OF
THE CHROMOSOME
At the end of the unit, you should be
able to:
 describe the location of genes in
the chromosomes;
 explain the different patterns of
inheritance; and
 perform the project-based
learning (PBL) task.

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 Tightly packed in the nucleus of
eukaryotic cells are the chromosomes.
Chromosomes are carriers of genes, the
unit determiners of hereditary
characteristics.

 Each chromosome is composed of

many structural proteins called
histones, which are shaped like a ball,
and the genetic material
deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA coiled
around it.
 The DNA molecule is a long,
coiled structure that carries the
genetic instructions on how
living things would grow and
develop.

 Portions of DNA in specific

patterns are responsible for the
physical and heritable
characteristics of organisms.
These are called genes.
The term chromosome came from the Greek
word chroma that means color and soma that
means body. This is because chromosomes can
be stained or colored by specific dyes.

In prokaryotes, the chromosome is merely a

circle of DNA molecule found in an area in the
cytoplasm called the nucleoid.
STRUCTURE OF
CHROMOSOME
 Sister Chromatids – one is
exact copy of the other and each
contains one DNA molecule
 P-arm – short arm structure
 q-arm – long arm structure
 Centromere – constricted point
of the chromosome
 Telomere – a repeating DNA
sequence at the end of the
chromosome’s body.
 DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)
Molecule – long string molecule
formed
Homologous
Chromosomes
All living things have a characteristic number
of chromosomes in their body cells (also
called somatic cells).
The chromosome number varies depending
on the species and is crucial to the survival of
the species. Any increase or decrease in the
number of chromosomes of any species of
organisms can lead to chromosomal
aberrations, in viability, or even death
Species of Chromosome Species of Chromosome
Organisms Number Organisms Number
Human 46 Earthworm 36
Gorilla 48 Puffer fish 42
Donkey 62 Dog 78
Cat 38 Fruit fly 4
Cow 60 Mosquito 6
ACTIVITY 3

Species of Chromosome Species of Chromosome

Organisms Number Organisms Number
1. 46 Earthworm 8.
Gorilla 4. 6. 42
Donkey 5. Dog 9.
2. 38 7. 4
3. 60 Mosquito 10.
HOMOLOGOUS
CHROMOSOMES
 The number of chromosomes present in the body cells
is called the diploid number (2N).

 Humans have 46 chromosomes. These chromosomes

exist as homologous pairs (23 pairs); one member of
each pair is carried by the egg cell and the other
member is carried by the sperm cell.

 The egg and sperm, collectively called gametes, contain

the haploid number (N) of chromosomes. The haploid
gametes pair up or combine with each other during
fertilization. So, the total of 46 chromosomes is a
mixture of the chromosomes from both the parents.
 Take note that the number of chromosomes is crucial to
the survival of the organisms. Any increase or decrease
in the number of chromosomes of any species of
organism can cause mutation or inviability that can
lead to the death of the organisms.

 However, in the advent of modern technology,

increasing the number of chromosomes (called
polyploidy) is being induced for plants and other
organisms that are beneficial to humans and the
environment.
Homologous chromosomes are chromosomes
which have the same structure:

(a)they have the same location of the centromere;

(b) their chromosomal arms are of the same

length; and most importantly,

(c) they contain the same genes in the same

order along the entire length of their
chromosomal arms.
 THE HUMAN
CHROMOSOMES
 A karyotype is an actual
picture of the chromosomes
from one cell that has been
stained and magnified 1000X.

 The chromosomes are studied

and analyzed by specially
trained cytogenetic
technologists.

 The study of chromosomes is

called cytogenetics. It could be
observed that in this
karyotype, each chromosome
is double-stranded.
The last pair is the sex chromosomes,
also called gonosomes, that differ
between males and females.
Females have two copies of the X chromosome
(XX), referred to as homogametic sex
chromosomes;
while males have only one X chromosome and
the other one is the Y chromosome (XY),
referred to as heterogametic sex
chromosomes.
Characteristically, the X chromosome is three
times the size of the Y chromosome and
carries 100 times more genes than the Y
chromosome.
ACTIVITY 4

In your own words define the following

terms: sister chromatids, homologous
chromosomes, centromere, and genes.