CONCISE

SOLUTIONS

GENETICS

ICSE CLASS 10
Class X Chapter 2 - Genetics - Some Basic Fundamentals Biology
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A. MULTIPLE CHOICE TYPE:

Question 2:
Which one of the following is the phenotypic monohybrid ratio in F2 generation?
(a) 3:1
(b) 1:2:1
(c) 2:2
(d) 1:3
Solution 2:
(a) 3 : 1

B: VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE:

Question 1:
Match the terms in column I with their explanations in column II.
Column I (Term) Column I (Explanation)
a. genetics (i) Chromosomes similar in size and shapes
b. Autosomes (ii) The alternative forms of a gene
c. Recessive gene (iii) Study of laws of inheritance of characters
(iv) A gene that can express only when in a
d. Allele
similar pair
(v) Chromosomes other than the pair of sex
e. Homologous chromosomes
chromosomes.
Solution 1:
(a) - (iii) Study of laws of inheritance of characters
(b) - (v) Chromosomes other than the pair of sex chromosomes
(c) - (iv) A gene that can express when only in a similar pair
(d) - (ii) The alternative forms of a gene
(e) - (i) Chromosomes similar in size and shape
Class X Chapter 03 – Genetics Biology
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Question 2:
Name two animals which have nineteen pairs of chromosomes.
Solution 2:
Lion, tiger, domestic cat (Any two)

Question 3:
Name any two genetic in humans.
Solution 3:
Colour-blindness, Thalassaemia, Sickle cell anaemia and Haemophilia (Any two)

Question 4:
Which one of the following genotypes is homozygous dominant and which one homozygous
recessive in regards to tongue rolling:
Rr, rr, RR
Solution 4:
Homozygous dominant – RR
Homozygous recessive - rr

C. SHORT ANSWER TYPE:

Question 1:
Differentiate between:
(a) genotype and phenotype.
(b) character and trait.
(c) monohybrid and dihybrid cross (phenotypic ratio)

Solution 1:
Phenotype Genotype
The observable The set of genes present in the cells of an Characteristic which
is organism is called its genotype.
genetically controlled is called
phenotype.
Character Trait
Any heritable feature is called a The alternative form of a character is called
character. trait.
Monohybrid cross Dihybrid cross
It is a cross between two pure It is a cross between two pure breeding breeding
parent organisms with parent organisms with different varieties different
varieties taking into taking into consideration the alternative consideration the
alternative trait of two characters.
trait of only one character.
Class X Chapter 03 – Genetics Biology
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Question 2:
Among lion, tiger and domestic cat, al the three have the same number of 38 chromosomes, yet
they have different appearances. How do you account for such differences?
Solution 2:
The characteristics of a species such as physical appearance, body functions and behavior are
not only the outcome of chromosome number, but these depend on the genotype of every
organism. That means the set of genes present in the organisms may vary and therefore lion,
tiger and domestic cat have the same number of 38 chromosomes, their characteristics (like
different appearances) are the result of the genes located on the chromosomes.

Question 3:
List any three features of garden pea with their dominant and recessive traits.
Solution 3:
Character Dominant trait Recessive trait
Flower Colour Purple White
Seed Colour Yellow Green
Seed Shape Round Wrinkled
Pod Shape Inflated Constricted
Flower Position Axial Terminal

Question 4:
Explain why generally only the male child suffers from colour blindness and not the female?
Solution 4:
Colour-blindness is caused due to recessive genes which occur on the X chromosome.
Males have only one X chromosome. If there is recessive gene present on X chromosome, then
the male will suffer from colour-blindness.
Females have two X chromosomes. It is highly impossible that both the X chromosomes carry
abnormal gene. Hence, if one gene is abnormal and since it is recessive, its expression will be
masked by the normal gene present on the other X chromosome. Females are unlikely to suffer
from colour-blindness.

Question 5:
In a certain species of animals, black fur (B) is dominant over brown fur (b) Show the possible
ratio of genotypes and phenotypes of the offspring of the pure breeding different coloured
parents.
Solution 5:
Phenotypic Ratio - 3 (Black Fur) :1 (Brown Fur)
Class X Chapter 03 – Genetics Biology
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Genotypic Ratio - 1(Homozygous Black Fur):2 (Heterozygous Black Fur): 1 (Homozygous

D: LONG ANSWER TYPE:

Question 1:
Explain the following terms:
(a) heterozygous
(b) Homozygous
(c) pedigree chart.
Solution 1:
(a) Heterozygous: The condition in which a pair of homologous chromosomes carries
dissimilar alleles for a particular character.
For example -
(i) A daughter (XXo) from a normal homozygous mother for colour vision (XX) and
a colour blind father has one normal and one defective allele (XoY).
(ii) Certain tongue rollers are heterozygous with Rr genotype.
(b) Homozygous: The condition in which a pair of homologous chromosomes carries similar
alleles for a particular character.
For example -
(i) A colorblind daughter (XoXo) will have both the X chromosomes with defective
alleles.
(ii) A non-roller will have rr (homozygous) genotype.
(c) Pedigree Chart: A pedigree chart is a diagram that shows the occurrence and appearance
or phenotypes of a particular gene or organism and its ancestors from one generation to the
next. In the pedigree chart, males are shown by squares and females by circles.

State the three mendel’s laws of inheritance.

Solution 2:

Mendel's laws
(i) Law of of inheritance are:
Dominance:
Out of a pair of contrasting characters present together, only one is
able to express itself while the other remains suppressed. The one that expresses is the
dominant character and the one that is unexpressed is the recessive one.
(ii) Law of Segregation : The two members of a pair of factors separate during the formation of
gametes. The gametes combine together by random fusion at the time of zygote formation. This
law is also known as 'law of purity of gametes'.
(iii) Law of Independent Assortment: When there are two pairs of contrasting characters, the
distribution of the members of one pair into the gametes is independent of the distribution of the
other pair.
Class X Chapter 03 – Genetics Biology
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Question 3:
Does the sex of the child depend on the father or it is just a matter of chance? Discuss
Solution 3:
The sex of the child depends on the father. The egg contains only one X chromosome, but half
of the sperms contain X-chromosome whereas the other half contains Y-chromosome. It is
simply a matter of chance as to which category of sperm fuses with the ovum and this
determines whether the child will be male or female.

If the egg fuses with X-bearing sperm, the resulting combination is XX and the resulting child is
female.
If the egg fuses with Y-bearing sperm, the resulting combination is XY and the resulting child is
male.

E. STRUCTURED / APPLICATION AND SKILL TYPE:

Question 1:
In a certain species of animals, black fur (B) is dominant over brown fur (b) Predict the
genotype and phenotype of the offspring when both parents are ‘Bb’ or have heterozygous
black fur.
Solution 1:

B B
B BB Bb
B Bb bb

Genotype - 1(Homozygous Black Fur) :2 (Heterozygous Black Fur):1 (Homozygous Brown Fur)
Phenotype - 3 (Black Fur) :1(Brown Fur)
Class X Chapter 03 – Genetics Biology
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Question 2:
Two pairs (A & B) of rabbits were crossed as given below:

(a) Can you tell which coat colour (black or white) is dominant? .............................
(b) Is the coat colour sex-linked? …………………..
Solution 2:
(a) Black
(b) No

Question 3:
Make a punnett square for finding out the proportion of different genotypes in the progeny of a
genetic cross between.
(a) A (TT) peatall
pure plant with a pure dwarf (tt) pea plant.
(b) red flower variety of pea (RR) with white flower variety of pea (rr)
Solution 3:
(a)

F2
generation- T t
Gametes TT Tt
T Tt Tt
t
Genotype - 1(Homozygous tall) :2 (Heterozygous tall):1 (Homozygous dwarf)
Phenotype - 3 (Tall) :1(Dwarf)
(b)
Class X Chapter 03 – Genetics Biology
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F2
generation? R r
Gametes RR Rr
R Rr rr
r
Genotype - 1(Homozygous red) :2 (Heterozygous red):1 (Homozygous white)
Phenotype - 3 (Red) :1(White)

Question 4:
A family consists of two parents and their five children and the pedigree chart below shows the
inheritance of the trait colour blindness in them.

(a) Who is colour blind in the parents – the Father or the Mother?
Solution 4:
(a) Father
(b) Two sons and three daughters
(c) The child 1 (daughter) is colour blind
(d) X chromosome
(e) Haemophilia