Biology Federal Board Class-10 (SSC-I)

Chapter
07 Inheritance
SHORT QUESTION AND ANSWERS
1. What is Inheritance in biology?
Ans: Inheritance (or Heredity) is the transmission of genetic traits or characteristics
from parents to their offspring through genes present on chromosomes.
2. Why do children resemble their parents?
Ans: Children resemble their parents because they inherit half of their genetic
material (DNA) from each parent. This DNA contains genes that code for
specific physical and physiological traits.
3. Why do siblings (brothers and sisters) look different from each other?
Ans: Siblings look different (except identical twins) because they receive different
combinations of genes from their parents. During gamete formation, genes
are shuffled (crossing over and independent assortment), leading to unique
genetic combinations.
4. What is a real-life example of inherited traits in humans?
Ans: Real-life examples include: eye color, hair color, skin tone, height, blood type,
attached or free earlobes, and the ability to roll one's tongue.
5. Can acquired traits be inherited?
Ans: No, acquired traits (like a muscular body from exercise, or a scar from an
injury) are not inherited. Only genetic changes in the germ cells (gametes) can
be passed to the next generation.
6. What is the role of DNA in inheritance?
Ans: DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) is the hereditary material that carries the genetic
information. It is organized into genes, which are the units of inheritance that
determine specific traits.
7. How does inheritance explain the presence of genetic disorders?
Ans: Genetic disorders (like color blindness, hemophilia, and cystic fibrosis) are
caused by mutations or defective genes that are passed from parents to
offspring through inheritance.

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8. Why is it important to understand inheritance in agriculture?

Ans: Understanding inheritance is crucial in agriculture for selective breeding –
farmers and breeders can produce crops and livestock with desirable traits
(like disease resistance, high yield, or better quality).
9. What is the difference between inherited and environmental traits?
Ans: Inherited traits are determined by genes (e.g., eye color), while environmental
traits are influenced by external factors (e.g., skin color can be affected by sun
exposure, weight by diet). Most traits are a combination of both.
10. How does inheritance relate to forensic science?
Ans: Inheritance principles, particularly DNA profiling, are used in forensic science
to identify individuals using genetic markers that are inherited from their
parents, making DNA analysis a powerful tool in crime investigation and
paternity testing.
11. What is a Chromosome?
Ans: A chromosome is a thread-like, highly condensed structure of DNA and
proteins (histones) found in the nucleus of cells, which carries genetic
information in the form of genes.
12. What are the two main components of a chromosome?
Ans: The two main components are:
(1) DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) – the genetic material, and
(2) Proteins (Histones) – around which DNA is wrapped for organization and
packaging.
13. What are the three main parts of a chromosome?
Ans: The three main structural parts are: (1) The Centromere (constriction point),
(2) The Telomeres (protective ends), and (3) The Chromatids (two identical
copies of DNA joined at the centromere).
14. What is a Centromere?
Ans: The centromere is a specialized, constricted region of a chromosome where
the two sister chromatids are joined together. It is also the attachment point
for spindle fibers during cell division.

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15. What are Sister Chromatids?

Ans: Sister chromatids are two identical copies of a chromosome that are joined
together at the centromere. They are formed during DNA replication before
cell division.
16. What is the function of Telomeres?
Ans: Telomeres are the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes. They prevent
the ends from fraying or sticking to other chromosomes and protect the
genetic material during cell division.
17. What is a Gene?
Ans: A gene is a specific segment of DNA on a chromosome that contains the
instructions (code) for the synthesis of a particular protein, which in turn
determines a specific trait.
18. How many chromosomes do humans have?
Ans: Human body cells (somatic cells) have a total of 46 chromosomes (23 pairs).
This includes 22 pairs of autosomes and 1 pair of sex chromosomes (XX in
females, XY in males).
19. What is the difference between a chromosome and chromatin?
Ans: Chromatin is the unwound, thread-like form of DNA and proteins present
during the interphase of the cell cycle. Chromosomes are the highly
condensed, rod-shaped structures formed from chromatin during cell division
for easy distribution.
20. What is a Karyotype?
Ans: A karyotype is the complete set of chromosomes of a cell, arranged in pairs
and displayed in a standard format (usually from largest to smallest). It is used
to detect chromosomal abnormalities (like Down syndrome, Turner syndrome,
etc.).
21. What is a Genotype?
Ans: A genotype is the genetic makeup or the set of alleles (gene variants) that an
organism possesses for a particular trait. It is the internal, inherited genetic
code.

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22. What is a Phenotype?

Ans: A phenotype is the observable physical or physiological expression of a trait in
an organism. It is the result of the interaction between the genotype and the
environment.
23. What is the difference between genotype and phenotype?
Ans: The genotype is the genetic constitution (e.g., the alleles 'Tt' or 'tt'), while the
phenotype is the observable appearance (e.g., tall or dwarf plant). Genotype
determines phenotype, but environmental factors can also influence it.
24. What is an Allele?
Ans: An allele is an alternative form of a gene that occupies the same position
(locus) on homologous chromosomes. For example, a gene for height may
have two alleles: 'T' (tall) and 't' (dwarf).
25. What is a Homozygous genotype?
Ans: A homozygous genotype is when an organism has two identical alleles for a
particular trait (e.g., TT or tt). These are also called pure breeds.
26. What is a Heterozygous genotype?
Ans: A heterozygous genotype is when an organism has two different alleles for a
particular trait (e.g., Tt). These are also called hybrids.
27. What is a Dominant allele?
Ans: A dominant allele is an allele that expresses its trait even when present in a
single copy (i.e., in a heterozygous condition). It masks the effect of the
recessive allele. It is represented by a capital letter (e.g., 'T').
28. What is a Recessive allele?
Ans: A recessive allele is an allele that only expresses its trait when present in two
copies (i.e., in a homozygous recessive condition). Its effect is masked by the
dominant allele. It is represented by a lowercase letter (e.g., 't').
29. Can two organisms with the same phenotype have different genotypes?
Ans: Yes! For example, two tall plants can have different genotypes: TT
(homozygous dominant) and Tt (heterozygous). Both will appear tall because
the dominant 'T' allele masks the recessive 't'.

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30. How does the environment affect phenotype?

Ans: The environment can influence how a genotype is expressed. For example, a
person may have genes for tall height, but poor nutrition during growth may
result in a shorter phenotype. Similarly, hydrangea flowers change color based
on soil pH, even with the same genotype.
31. Who is Gregor Mendel?
Ans: Gregor Mendel was an Austrian monk and scientist who is known as the
"Father of Genetics" for his groundbreaking experiments on pea plants (Pisum
sativum), which established the fundamental laws of inheritance.
32. Why did Mendel choose pea plants for his experiments?
Ans: Mendel chose pea plants because:
(1) They have many distinct, easily observable traits (e.g., tall/dwarf,
round/wrinkled seeds),
(2) They are easy to cross-pollinate,
(3) They have a short generation time, and
(4) They produce a large number of offspring.
33. What is Mendel's Law of Dominance?
Ans: The Law of Dominance states that when two pure-breeding organisms with
contrasting traits are crossed, only one trait (the dominant trait) will appear in
the first filial (F1) generation, while the other trait (the recessive trait) is
masked.
34. What is Mendel's Law of Segregation?
Ans: The Law of Segregation states that during the formation of gametes (meiosis),
the two alleles of a gene segregate (separate) from each other, so that each
gamete receives only one allele for each trait.
35. What is Mendel's Law of Independent Assortment?
Ans: The Law of Independent Assortment states that during gamete formation, the
alleles of different genes (for different traits) assort independently of one
another, provided they are located on different chromosomes. This leads to
new combinations of traits in offspring.

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36. What is a Monohybrid cross?

Ans: A monohybrid cross is a genetic cross that involves only one pair of
contrasting traits (e.g., crossing a pure tall plant TT with a pure dwarf plant tt).
37. What is the phenotypic ratio and genotypic ratio in the F2 generation of a
monohybrid cross?
Ans: In a monohybrid cross (Tt x Tt), the F2 generation shows: Phenotypic ratio =
3:1 (3 tall : 1 dwarf) and Genotypic ratio = 1:2:1 (1 TT : 2 Tt : 1 tt).
38. What is a Dihybrid cross?
Ans: A dihybrid cross is a genetic cross that involves two pairs of contrasting traits
simultaneously (e.g., crossing plants with round-yellow seeds with plants
having wrinkled-green seeds).
39. What is the phenotypic ratio in the F2 generation of a dihybrid cross?
Ans: In a dihybrid cross (e.g., RrYy x RrYy), the F2 generation shows a classic
phenotypic ratio of 9:3:3:1.
40. Why did Mendel's laws not fully explain all patterns of inheritance?
Ans: Mendel's laws are based on simple, complete dominance and genes located
on different chromosomes. However, later discoveries (like incomplete
dominance, co-dominance, multiple alleles, sex-linked traits, and linked genes)
showed that inheritance can be more complex, leading to patterns beyond
Mendel's original observations.

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