Class : 10th
Chapter 3
Biology
Short Answer
Q1. Ans
(a) Duplicated chromosomes remain attached at a point termed as centromere.
(b) The full complement of DNA of an organism is termed as Genome.
(c) The inheritable feature of an organism is termed as character.
(d) Axillary flower position is a dominant trait of pea flower.
(e) Alternative forms of a gene are called Allele.
Q2. Ans
All species have a fixed number of chromosomes. However, the characteristics of species
including physical appearance, body functions, behavior, etc. are not simply the outcome of
chromosome number, but these are the result of the units called genes which the chromosomes
carry. The lion and the cat have the same number of chromosomes (38). Yet one is distinct from
the other in body size, appearance, colour, behavior, etc. All such characteristics of an organism
are the result of the genes located on the chromosomes
Q3. Ans
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
Q4. Ans
Colour blindness is caused due to recessive genes, which occur on the ‘x’ chromosomes. 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. Due to this reason, females are unlikely to suffer from colour-blindness.
Descriptive Answer
Q1. Ans
(a) 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.
(b) Variations — The small differences among the individuals of the same species are called
variations.
(c) Mutation — Mutation is a sudden change in one or more genes, or in the number or in the
structure of chromosomes. Mutation alters the hereditary material of an organism's cells and
results in a change in certain characters or traits for example :
1. Sickle cell anaemia
2. Radioactive radiations
Q2. Ans
The sex of the child depends upon the kind of sperm that fertilises the egg. The egg contains only
one X chromosome, but half of the sperms released into the genital tract of the female during
coitus are X-bearing and the remaining half are Y-bearing. It is simply a matter of chance as to
which category of sperm fuses with the ovum:
• If the egg (X) is fused by X-bearing sperm, the resulting combination is XX i.e. female
constitution and the child produced is a female (Daughter).
• If the egg (X) is fused by Y-bearing sperm, the resulting combination is XY i.e. male
constitution and the child produced is a male (Son).
Q3. Ans
a) Difference between karyotype and karyokinesis —
Karyotype Karyokinesis
The complete set of chromosomes in the cells of an The division of the nucleus during mitosis
organism is its karyotype. is called karyokinesis.
(b) Difference between autosomes and sex chromosomes
Autosomes Sex chromosomes
They determine the somatic traits. They determine the sex of an organism.
They are numbered as 1 to 22. They are recognized by the letters XO, XY, ZO, ZW.
They show Mendelian inheritance. They do not show Mendelian inheritance.
Human show 22 pairs of autosomes. Humans show only 1 pair of sex chromosome.
(c) Difference between homozygous and heterozygous chromosomes
Homozygous chromosomes Heterozygous chromosomes
It has two same copies of the same allele It contains two different copies of alleles
coding for a particular trait. coding for a particular trait.
Skill Type
Q1. Ans
B b
B BB Bb
b Bb bb
In the question it is given that B refers to black fur and b refers to brown fur. So the genotype
and phenotype of the offspring will be:
Genotype — 1 (Homozygous Black Fur) : 2 (Heterozygous Black Fur) : 1 (Homozygous Brown
Fur)
Phenotype — 3 (Black Fur): 1 (Brown Fur)
Q2. Ans
(a) Black
(b) No
Q3. Ans
(a) A pure tall (TT) pea plant with a pure dwarf (tt) pea plant
F2 Generation:
Gametes T t
T TT Tt
t Tt tt
Genotype - 1 (Homozygous tall) : 2 (Heterozygous tall) : 1 (Homozygous dwarf)
Phenotype - 3 (Tall) : 1 (Dwarf)
(b) Red flower variety of pea (RR) with white flower variety of pea (rr)
F2 Generation:
Gametes R r
R RR Rr
r Rr rr
Genotype — 1 (Homozygous red) : 2 (Heterozygous red) : 1 (Homozygous white)
Phenotype — 3 (Red) : 1 (White)
Q4. Ans
(a) Shape of seed
(b) Round seed shape is dominant.
(c) Phenotype — Round seed
Genotype — Rr
(d) Law of dominance, which states that out of a pair of contrasting characters present together,
only one is able to express itself while the other remains suppressed.
(e)
Gamete R r
R RR Rr
r Rr rr
(f) Phenotypic ratio — 3:1
(g) Genotypic ratio — 1:2:1
(h) The two traits of seed colour are:
1. Yellow (dominant)
2. Green (recessive)
(i) Pisum sativum
(j) The two main features due to which Mendel selected pea plants are :
1. Many varieties were available in alternative forms of a character.
2. The life span of pea plants is short and many generations can be obtained and studied in
less time.
Q5. Ans
(a) Genotype : RrYy
(b) All Round and yellow seeds
(c) RY, Ry, rY, ry
(d) 9:3:3:1
(e) Law of Independent Assortment, which states that the distribution of the alleles of one
character into the gametes is independent of the distribution of the alleles of the other character.