Chapter - 9
Heredity
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Exchange of genetic material takes place in
(a) vegetative reproduction (b) asexual reproduction (c) sexual reproduction (d) budding
Soln: Answer is (c) sexual reproduction
Explanation:
Apart from sexual reproduction other options are type of asexual reproduction where only single parent is
involved. Hence exchange of genetic material takes place in sexual mode of reproduction.
2. Two pink coloured flowers on crossing resulted in 1 red, 2 pink and 1 white flower progeny. The nature
of the cross will be
(a) double fertilisation (b) self pollination (c) cross fertilisation (d) no fertilization
Soln: (c) cross fertilisation
3. A cross between a tall plant (TT) and short pea plant (tt) resulted in progeny that were all tall plants
because
(a) tallness is the dominant trait
(b) shortness is the dominant trait
(c) tallness is the recessive trait
(d) height of pea plant is not governed by gene ‘T’ or ‘t’
Soln: (a) tallness is the dominant trait
Explanation: In monohybrid cross only dominant characters are expressed in first progeny.
4. Which of the following statement is incorrect?
(a) For every hormone there is a gene. (b) For every protein there is a gene.
(c) For production of every enzyme there is a gene (d) For every molecule of fat there is a gene
Soln: (d) for every molecule of fat there is a gene
Explanation: Every, protein enzymes and hormones are controlled by specific gene whereas fats are not
controlled by gene hence option d is a wrong statement.
5. If a round, green seeded pea plant (RR yy) is crossed with wrinkled, yellow seeded pea plant, (rr YY)
the seeds produced in F1 generation are
(a) round and yellow (b) round and green (c) wrinkled and green (d) wrinkled and yellow
Soln: (a) round and yellow
Explanation:
Round and yellow are the dominant characters hence in f1 generation all seeds will be round and yellow.
6. In human males all the chromosomes are paired perfectly except one. This/these unpaired chromosome
is/are
(i) large chromosome
(ii) small chromosome
(iii) Y-chromosome
(iv) X-chromosome
(a) (i) and (ii) (b) (iii) only (c) (iii) and (iv) (d) (ii) and (iv)
Soln: (c) (iii) and (iv)
Explanation: These are sex determining chromosomes that are not paired perfectly due to half size of Y
chromosome.
7. The maleness of a child is determined by
(a) the X chromosome in the zygote
(b) the Y chromosome in zygote
(c) the cytoplasm of germ cell which determines the sex
(d) sex is determined by chance
Soln: (b) the Y chromosome in zygote
Explanation: If sperm with Y chromosome fertilize the egg zygote will develop into male child. If sperm with
X chromosome fertilize the egg zygote will develop into female child.
8. A zygote which has an X-chromosome inherited from the father will develop into a
(a) boy (b) girl
(c) X- chromosome does not determine the sex of a child (d) either boy or girl
Soln: (b) girl
9. Select the incorrect statement
(a) Frequency of certain genes in a population change over several generations resulting in evolution
(b) Reduction in weight of the organism due to starvation is genetically controlled
(c) Low weight parents can have heavy weight progeny
(d) Traits which are not inherited over generations do not cause evolution
Soln: (b) Reduction in weight of the organism due to starvation is genetically controlled
Explanation: Option b) is a wrong statement because weight loss and gain are controlled by external factors
and they are not controlled genetically.
10. Two pea plants one with round green seeds (RRyy) and another with wrinkled yellow (rrYY) seeds
produce F1 progeny that have round, yellow (RrYy) seeds. When F1 plants are selfed, the F2 progeny
will have new combination of characters. Choose the new combination from the following
(i) Round, yellow
(ii) Round, green
(iii) Wrinkled, yellow
(iv) Wrinkled, green
(a) (i) and (ii) (b) (i) and (iv) (c) (ii) and (iii) (d) (i) and (iii)
Soln: (c) (ii) and (iii)
11. A basket of vegetables contains carrot, potato, radish and tomato. Which of them represent the correct
homologous structures? (a) Carrot and potato
(b) Carrot and tomato
(c) Radish and carrot
(d) Radish and potato
Soln: (c) Radish and carrot
Explanation: They both have similar structure and they both growth beneath the earth( Roots)
12. Select the correct statement
(a) Tendril of a pea plant and phylloclade of Opuntia are homologous
(b) Tendril of a pea plant and phylloclade of Opuntia are analogous
(c) Wings of birds and limbs of lizards are analogous
(d) Wings of birds and wings of bat are homologous
Soln: (a) Tendril of a pea plant and phylloclade of Opuntia are homologous
Explanation: Tendril of a pea plant and phylloclade of Opuntia are homologous because they have similar
design and origin.
13. Which of the following statements is not true with respect to variation?
(a) All variations in a species have equal chance of survival
(b) Change in genetic composition results in variation
(c) Selection of variants by environmental factors forms the basis of evolutionary processes.
(d) Variation is minimum in asexual reproduction
Soln: (a) All variations in a species have equal chance of survival
Explanation Statement a) is wrong s because only useful variation have chance of survival. Nature choose the
fittest variation to survive.
14. A trait in an organism is influenced by
(a) paternal DNA only
(b) maternal DNA only
(c) both maternal and paternal DNA
(d) neither by paternal nor by maternal DNA
Soln: (c) both maternal and paternal DNA
Explanation:
DNA is contributed to an offspring by both the parents hence traits are contributed by both the parents.
15. Select the group which shares maximum number of common characters
(a) two individuals of a species
(b) two species of a genus
(c) two genera of a family
(d) two genera of two families
(a) two individuals of a species
Explanation: Species is the lowest taxon hence members of same species share maximum number of common
characteristics.
16. From the list given below, select the character which can be acquired but not inherited (a)
colour of eye
(b) colour of skin
(c) size of body
(d) nature of hair
Soln: (c) size of body
Explanation: Person’s food habits decide the nature of the body. Regular exercise helps in building muscular
body. Body nature is not transferred to offspring hence size of the body is not inherited.
17. The two versions of a trait (character) which are brought in by the male and female gametes are
situated on
(a) copies of the same chromosome (b) two different chromosomes (c) sex chromosomes
(d) any chromosome
Soln: (b) two different chromosomes
Explanation: This is the reason behind expression of one progenies in one version and other versions in another
progeny.
18. Select the statements that describe characteristics of genes
(i) genes are specific sequence of bases in a DNA molecule
(ii) a gene does not code for proteins
(iii) in individuals of a given species, a specific gene is located on a particular chromosome
(iv) each chromosome has only one gene
(a) (i) and (ii)
(b) (i) and (iii)
(c) (i) and (iv)
(d) (ii) and (iv)
Soln: (b) (i) and (iii)
Explanation: Satement ii) is wrong because genes code for specific proteins. Statement 4 is wrong because
chromosomes have many number of genes.
19. In peas, a pure tall plant (TT) is crossed with a short plant (tt). The ratio of pure tall plants to short
plants in F2 is
(a) 1 : 3 (b) 3 : 1 (c) 1 : 1 (d) 2 : 1
Soln:
(b) 3 : 1
Short Answer Questions
20. How is the sex of a newborn determined in humans?
Soln: Sex of the individual is determined the genes inherited from the parents. If a newborn acquires X
chromosomes from father child will be a female and if newborn receives Y chromosome from father it will be a
male.
21. Do genetic combination of mothers play a significant role in determining the sex of a new born?
Soln: No Sex of a new born will be determined by the chromosome donated by father. Mothers have XX in their
23rd chromosome pair and they always donate One X. But fathers have X And Y in their 23rd chromosome pair.
If father donates X child will be girl and if father donates Y child will be a boy.
22. Why do all the gametes formed in human females have an X chromosome?
Soln: Females possess XX in their 23 pair of chromosome. During meiosis one X chromosome enters each
gamete hence all females gametes possess X chromosome.
23. In human beings, the statistical probability of getting either a male or female child is 50 : 50. Give a
suitable explanation.
Soln: Sex of the offspring is determined by the gamete donated by male. Male possess X and Y chromosomes in
their 23rd pair. The ration between X and Y is 1:! Hence the probability of getting either a male or female child is
50.
24. A very small population of a species faces a greater threat of extinction than a larger population.
Provide a suitable genetic explanation.
Soln: A very small population of a species faces a greater threat of extinction than a larger population because
of the following reasons
Inbreeding: Small population promotes inbreeding. Inbreed results in lesser variations.
Genetic drift: Small population is vulnerable to sudden change in environment. Because of genetic drift
chances of species with small population may wipe out.
This lead to negative population growth which is detrimental for the survival of the species with smaller
population.
25. Give the pair of contrasting traits of the following characters in pea plant and mention which is
dominant and recessive (i) yellow seed (ii) round seed
Soln: (i) Yellow- dominant , Green- Recessive
(ii) Round-dominant , Wrinkled-Recessive
26. A woman has only daughters. Analyse the situation genetically and provide a suitable explanation.
Soln: A woman has only daughter; it means egg always received X chromosome from the sperm. If sperm donates
X chromosomes the resultant child will be female and if Sperm donates y chromosome baby will be a male.
Long Answer Questions
27. Does geographical isolation of individuals of a species lead to formation of a new species? Provide a
suitable explanation.
Soln: Geographical isolation of individual of a species leads to genetic drift. This limits sexual reproduction of
the separated population. This results in separated individuals reproducing among themselves. This leads to
formation of new variation. Accumulation and transfer of these variations through generation will lead to the
formation of new species.
28. Give reasons why acquired characters are not inherited.
Sol: Acquired characters are the results of our body’s response to external stimuli such as food, disease, climate
change. This results in a development of particular trait where change of phenotype is observed. But for characters
to get inherited to generation Genotype of an organism should be changed. In acquired characters there is no
change in the DNA of germ cells. Hence acquired characters cannot be inherited.
29. In the following crosses write the characteristics of the progeny
Cross Progeny
a) RR YY x RR YY ........................... Round,
yellow Round, yellow
b) Rr Yy x Rr Yy ........................... Round,
yellow Round, yellow
c) rr yy x rr yy ........................... wrinkled,
green wrinkled, green
d) RR YY x rr yy ........................... Round,
yellow wrinkled green
Soln:
Cross Progeny
a) RR YY x RR YY ........................... Round, Round, yellow
yellow Round, yellow
b) Rr Yy x Rr Yy ........................... Round, Round, yellow
yellow Round, green
Round, yellow Wrinkled, yellow
Wrinkled, green
c) rr yy x rr yy ........................... wrinkled, Wrinkled, green
green wrinkled, green
d) RR YY x rr yy ........................... Round, Round, yellow
yellow wrinkled green
30. Give the basic features of the mechanism of inheritance.
Soln: Basic features of the mechanism of inheritance are as follows
• Genes control the characters
• Genes are present in two or more forms
• One form of gene may be dominant over other
• Genes are present on chromosomes
• Individual genes exist in two forms may be similar or dissimilar
• Two forms of the gene separate at the time of gamete formation
• Two forms of genes are brought together in zygote
31. Give reasons for the appearance of new combinations of characters in the F2 progeny.
F1 plants have round and yellow seeds. Cross between generations can give rise to new combinations in F2
generation with round-yellow, round green, wrinkled yellow and wrinkled green in the ratio of 9 : 3 : 3 : 1.
This shows that the chances for the pea seed to be round or wrinkled do not depend on their chances to be yellow
or green. Hence each pair of alleles is independent of the other pair. This is called as independent assortment.
