Complete Genetics &
Heredity Study Pack –
Notes, Flashcards & 50
MCQs with Answers
Master Genetics effortlessly with this all-
in-one study resource!
This study pack includes:
Comprehensive Notes – Clear and easy-
to-understand explanations of key
genetics concepts.
Numbered Flashcards – Perfect for quick
revision and memorization of important
terms.
50 Original MCQs – Test your knowledge
with answers and brief explanations to
reinforce learning.
Ideal for: Students preparing for exams,
assignments, or anyone wanting a strong
foundation in Genetics & Heredity.
Genetics & Heredity
1. Introduction
Genetics is the branch of biology that studies
how traits are inherited from parents to
offspring. Heredity is the actual process by
which genetic information is passed down
through generations.
Traits can be physical (eye color, height) or
biochemical (blood type, enzyme activity).
Genetics helps explain variation in organisms
and is essential in medicine, agriculture, and
biotechnology.
2. Key Concepts
a. Genes, Alleles, and Chromosomes
Gene: A unit of heredity; a segment of DNA
that codes for a trait.
Allele: Different forms of a gene (e.g., eye color
can have alleles for brown or blue).
Chromosome: Thread-like structure of DNA and
proteins carrying many genes. Humans have 46
chromosomes (23 pairs).
b. Genotype vs. Phenotype
Genotype: The genetic makeup of an organism
(e.g., Bb).
Phenotype: The observable trait (e.g., brown
eyes).
c. Dominant & Recessive Alleles
Dominant allele: Expressed even if only one
copy is present (e.g., B).
Recessive allele: Expressed only if both copies
are present (e.g., b).
d. Homozygous vs. Heterozygous
Homozygous: Two identical alleles (BB or bb).
Heterozygous: Two different alleles (Bb).
3. Mendelian Genetics
Gregor Mendel is the father of genetics. He
discovered patterns of inheritance using pea
plants.
Mendel’s Laws
1. Law of Segregation: Each parent contributes
one allele for each trait.
2. Law of Independent Assortment: Alleles of
different genes separate independently during
gamete formation.
3. Law of Dominance: Some alleles are
dominant and mask the effect of recessive
alleles.
Monohybrid Cross Example
Trait: Plant height (T = tall, t = short)
Cross: Tt × Tt
Punnett Square:
T t
T TT Tt
t Tt tt
Genotype ratio: 1 TT : 2 Tt : 1 tt
Phenotype ratio: 3 tall : 1 short
Dihybrid Cross Example
Traits: Seed shape (R = round, r = wrinkled) and
color (Y = yellow, y = green)
Cross: RrYy × RrYy
Phenotype ratio: 9:3:3:1 (round yellow : round
green : wrinkled yellow : wrinkled green)
4. Types of Inheritance
1. Complete Dominance: One allele completely
masks the other
2. Incomplete Dominance: Heterozygote shows
intermediate trait (e.g., red × white = pink).
3. Codominance: Both alleles are expressed
(e.g., AB blood type).
4. Multiple Alleles: More than two alleles exist
for a trait (e.g., blood group: A, B, O).
5. Polygenic Inheritance: Trait controlled by
many genes (e.g., height, skin color).
6. Sex-linked Inheritance: Genes located on sex
chromosomes (X or Y). Common in color
blindness and hemophilia.
---
5. Mutation
Definition: Permanent change in DNA sequence.
Types of mutations
1.Point mutation: Single base change (e.g.,
sickle cell anemia).
2.Insertion/Deletion: Add or remove DNA bases.
Mutations can be harmful, beneficial, or neutral.
6. Applications of Genetics
1. Medical Genetics: Identifying hereditary
diseases, gene therapy.
2. Agriculture: Breeding crops and livestock
with desirable traits.
3. Forensic Science: DNA profiling for crime
solving.
4. Evolutionary Studies: Understanding genetic
variation and adaptation.
Genetics & Heredity Flashcards
1. What is genetics?
The branch of biology that studies how traits
are inherited from parents to offspring.
2. What is heredity?
The process by which genetic information is
passed from parents to offspring.
3. Define gene.
A segment of DNA that codes for a specific trait.
4. Define allele.
Different forms of a gene that determine
variations of a trait.
5. What is a chromosome?
Thread-like structures of DNA and proteins that
carry many genes. Humans have 46
chromosomes (23 pairs).
6. Difference between genotype and
phenotype.
Genotype: Genetic makeup (e.g., Bb)
Phenotype: Observable trait (e.g., brown eyes)
7. Define dominant and recessive alleles.
Dominant: Expressed even if only one copy is
present.
Recessive: Expressed only if both copies are
present.
8. Difference between homozygous and
heterozygous.
Homozygous: Two identical alleles (BB or bb)
Heterozygous: Two different alleles (Bb)
9. State Mendel’s Law of Segregation.
Each parent contributes one allele for each trait
to the offspring.
10. State Mendel’s Law of Independent
Assortment.
Alleles of different genes separate
independently during gamete formation.
11. State Mendel’s Law of Dominance.
Some alleles are dominant and mask the effect
of recessive alleles.
12. Give an example of a monohybrid cross.
Tall (Tt) × Tall (Tt) pea plants → Genotype ratio
1 TT : 2 Tt : 1 tt; Phenotype ratio 3 tall : 1 short.
13. What is complete dominance?
One allele completely masks the other in the
heterozygote.
14. What is incomplete dominance?
Heterozygote shows an intermediate trait (e.g.,
red × white = pink).
15. What is codominance?
Both alleles are expressed equally (e.g., AB
blood type).
16. What are multiple alleles?
A trait controlled by more than two alleles (e.g.,
blood group A, B, O).
17. Define polygenic inheritance.
A trait controlled by many genes (e.g., height,
skin color).
18. What is sex-linked inheritance?
Genes located on sex chromosomes (X or Y),
e.g., color blindness.
19. What is a mutation?
A permanent change in the DNA sequence.
20. Name types of mutations.
Point mutation: Single base change (e.g., sickle
cell anemia)
Insertion/Deletion: DNA bases added or
removed
21. Give applications of genetics.
Medical genetics: hereditary diseases, gene
therapy
Agriculture: crop and livestock improvement
Forensics: DNA profiling
Evolution: studying genetic variation
Genetics & Heredity –
50 MCQs
1. What is the fundamental unit of heredity?
a) Chromosome
b) Gene
c) Allele
d) Nucleotide
2. Which type of allele is expressed in a
heterozygote?
a) Recessive
b) Dominant
c) Co-dominant
d) Incomplete
3. Humans have how many pairs of
chromosomes?
a) 22
b) 23
c) 24
d) 46
4. What is the observable characteristic of an
organism called?
a) Genotype
b) Phenotype
c) Allele
d) Chromosome
5. When two different alleles are present in a
heterozygote, the allele that is not expressed is:
a) Dominant
b) Recessive
c) Codominant
d) Polygenic
6. Which law states that each trait separates
independently during gamete formation?
a) Law of Segregation
b) Law of Dominance
c) Law of Independent Assortment
d) Law of Inheritance
7. Crossing a red flower with a white flower to
produce pink offspring illustrates:
a) Complete dominance
b) Codominance
c) Incomplete dominance
d) Polygenic inheritance
8. Blood group AB is an example of:
a) Complete dominance
b) Incomplete dominance
c) Codominance
d) Sex-linked inheritance
9. A carrier female for color blindness has
which genotype?
a) X^c X^c
b) X^C X^c
c) X^C Y
d) X^c Y
10. Which of the following is a polygenic trait?
a) Eye color
b) Blood type
c) Tongue rolling
d) Hair texture
11. The observable traits of an organism are
determined by:
a) Only the environment
b) Only the genes
c) Both genes and environment
d) Neither
12. In a monohybrid cross of Tt × Tt, what is the
probability of getting a homozygous dominant
offspring?
a) 25%
b) 50%
c) 75%
d) 100%
13. Genes located on sex chromosomes are
called:
a) Autosomal genes
b) Sex-linked genes
c) Polygenic genes
d) Recessive genes
14. The study of genes and inheritance is called:
a) Biology
b) Genetics
c) Cytology
d) Evolution
15. Crossing two heterozygous pea plants for
seed shape (Rr × Rr) produces a genotype ratio
of:
a) 1:2:1
b) 3:1
c) 2:1
d) 1:1
16. Which is NOT a type of mutation?
a) Point mutation
b) Frameshift mutation
c) Crossing-over
d) Deletion mutation
17. In humans, the sex of the child is
determined by:
a) Mother’s X chromosome
b) Father’s Y chromosome
c) Father’s X chromosome
d) Mother’s Y chromosome
18. Which of the following involves two alleles
being equally expressed?
a) Complete dominance
b) Incomplete dominance
c) Codominance
d) Recessive inheritance
19. Which genetic material is passed from
parents to offspring?
a) Protein
b) Lipid
c) DNA
d) RNA
20. Which of the following is an example of
complete dominance?
a) Red × White = Pink
b) Brown eyes × Blue eyes = Brown eyes
c) AB blood type
d) Height controlled by many genes
21. A mutation that occurs in a somatic cell:
a) Can be inherited
b) Cannot be inherited
c) Always beneficial
d) Always lethal
22. Mendel used which plant for his
experiments?
a) Maize
b) Pea
c) Sunflower
d) Wheat
23. Law of Segregation explains:
a) How alleles separate during meiosis
b) How traits blend in offspring
c) How polygenic traits are expressed
d) How mutations occur
24. Heterozygous tall pea plant is represented
as:
a) TT
b) Tt
c) tt
d) tT
25. Which blood type is considered the
universal donor?
a) A
b) B
c) AB
d) O
26. What is an allele?
a) A gene variant
b) A chromosome
c) A nucleotide
d) A protein
27. Polygenic inheritance usually results in:
a) Discrete traits
b) Continuous variation
c) Only two phenotypes
d) No variation
28. Crossing a homozygous dominant with
homozygous recessive produces offspring that
are:
a) All heterozygous
b) All homozygous dominant
c) All homozygous recessive
d) Half heterozygous, half homozygous
29. In humans, height is controlled by:
a) One gene
b) Many genes
c) Sex chromosomes only
d) Recessive alleles only
30. Which of these is NOT a principle
discovered by Mendel?
a) Law of Segregation
b) Law of Independent Assortment
c) Law of Dominance
d) Law of Mutation
31. Which is a characteristic of recessive alleles?
a) Always expressed in heterozygotes
b) Expressed only in homozygotes
c) Never expressed
d) Expressed in polygenic traits
32. A Punnett square is used to:
a) Sequence DNA
b) Predict offspring genotypes
c) Measure gene expression
d) Identify mutations
33. Crossing red and white flowers producing
pink flowers demonstrates:
a) Codominance
b) Incomplete dominance
c) Complete dominance
d) Sex-linked inheritance
34. X-linked traits are more commonly
expressed in:
a) Females
b) Males
c) Both equally
d) None
35. A point mutation is a change in:
a) A single nucleotide
b) A whole chromosome
c) Multiple genes
d) RNA only
36. Which is an application of genetics?
a) Crop improvement
b) Gene therapy
c) Forensic analysis
d) All of the above
37. A Punnett square of Rr × Rr gives what
probability for rr?
a) 25%
b) 50%
c) 75%
d) 100%
38. Codominance example is:
a) Red × White = Pink
b) AB blood type
c) Tall × Short = Tall
d) Eye color
39. What is a carrier?
a) Someone who shows the trait
b) Someone who carries but does not show the
trait
c) Someone with only dominant alleles
d) Someone homozygous recessive
40. A frameshift mutation is caused by:
a) Substitution
b) Insertion or deletion
c) Crossing-over
d) Independent assortment
41. Which of the following is a Mendelian trait?
a) Tongue rolling
b) Height
c) Skin color
d) Eye color
42. Which type of inheritance involves blending
of traits?
a) Complete dominance
b) Incomplete dominance
c) Codominance
d) Sex-linked inheritance
43. A heterozygous cross Aa × Aa produces
what genotypic ratio?
a) 1:2:1
b) 3:1
c) 2:1
d) 1:1
44. Law of Dominance states:
a) One allele may mask another
b) All traits blend
c) All genes segregate independently
d) Genes mutate randomly
45. Which is a sex-linked disorder?
a) Sickle cell anemia
b) Hemophilia
c) Cystic fibrosis
d) Tay-Sachs disease
46. In a dihybrid cross, the phenotypic ratio for
two heterozygotes (RrYy × RrYy) is:
a) 9:3:3:1
b) 3:1
c) 1:2:1
d) 1:1
47. Mendel’s principle of segregation applies
during:
a) Fertilization
b) Meiosis
c) Mitosis
d) Gamete formation only
48. Genes located on autosomes are called:
a) Sex-linked genes
b) Autosomal genes
c) Polygenic genes
d) Recessive genes
49. Crossing a homozygous dominant with
homozygous recessive is called:
a) Test cross
b) Monohybrid cross
c) Dihybrid cross
d) Back cross
50. Which of the following is true about
mutations?
a) All are harmful
b) Can be beneficial, harmful, or neutral
c) Always recessive
d) Always lethal
Genetics and Hereditary MCQ
Answers
1. b – Gene; the basic unit of heredity.
2. b – Dominant; expressed in heterozygotes.
3. b – 23; humans have 23 pairs of
chromosomes.
4. b – Phenotype; observable traits of an
organism.
5. b – Recessive; expressed only in
homozygotes.
6. c – Law of Independent Assortment;
different genes separate independently.
7. c – Incomplete dominance; heterozygote
shows intermediate trait.
8. c – Codominance; both alleles expressed
equally.
9. b – X^C X^c; female carrier has one normal
and one mutated X.
10. b – Many genes control one trait; polygenic
inheritance.
11. c – Both genes and environment;
phenotype influenced by both.
12. a – 25%; homozygous dominant probability
in Tt × Tt.
13. b – Sex-linked genes; located on X or Y
chromosomes.
14. b – Genetics; study of genes and inheritance.
15. a – 1:2:1; genotype ratio in heterozygous
monohybrid cross.
16. c – Crossing-over; this is recombination, not
a mutation.
17. b – Father’s Y chromosome; determines
male sex.
18. c – Codominance; both alleles expressed in
heterozygote.
19. c – DNA; carries genetic information.
20. b – Brown eyes × Blue eyes = Brown eyes;
example of complete dominance.
21. b – Cannot be inherited; somatic mutations
affect body cells.
22. b – Pea; Mendel’s experimental plant.
23. a – Law of Segregation; alleles separate
during meiosis.
24. b – Tt; heterozygous tall pea plant.
25. d – O; universal donor blood type.
26. a – Allele; variant form of a gene.
27. b – Continuous variation; polygenic traits
produce range of phenotypes.
28. a – All heterozygous; result of homozygous
dominant × homozygous recessive.
29. b – Many genes; human height is polygenic.
30. d – Law of Mutation; not one of Mendel’s
laws.
31. b – Expressed only in homozygotes;
characteristic of recessive alleles.
32. b – Punnett square predicts offspring
genotypes.
33. b – Incomplete dominance; heterozygotes
show blended traits.
34. b – Males; X-linked recessive traits more
commonly expressed in males.
35. a – Single nucleotide; point mutation
changes one base.
36. d – All of the above; genetics applied in
medicine, agriculture, and forensics.
37. a – 25%; rr probability in Rr × Rr cross.
38. b – AB blood type; codominance example.
39. b – Carrier; has recessive allele but does not
show the trait.
40. b – Frameshift caused by insertion or
deletion of bases.
41. a – Tongue rolling; example of Mendelian
single-gene trait.
42. b – Incomplete dominance; blending of
traits.
43. a – 1:2:1; genotypic ratio in Aa × Aa cross.
44. a – Law of Dominance; dominant allele
masks recessive.
45. b – Hemophilia; classic X-linked disorder.
46. a – 9:3:3:1; phenotypic ratio for dihybrid
heterozygous cross.
47. b – Meiosis; segregation occurs during
gamete formation.
48. b – Autosomal genes; located on non-sex
chromosomes.
49. d – Back cross; hybrid crossed with parent
to test genotype.
50. b – Mutations can be beneficial, harmful, or
neutral.
