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Grade 8 Science Chapter 1 Solutions

The document contains solved exercises from Grade 8 Science, Chapter 1, covering topics such as the advantages of long legs for river animals, DNA decoding, and the behavior of puppies. It also explains the differences between haploid and diploid cells, the implications of DNA changes during mitosis, and the importance of heredity in species survival and adaptation. Key concepts include the role of chromosomes and genes in inheritance and the variation within species.

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21 views5 pages

Grade 8 Science Chapter 1 Solutions

The document contains solved exercises from Grade 8 Science, Chapter 1, covering topics such as the advantages of long legs for river animals, DNA decoding, and the behavior of puppies. It also explains the differences between haploid and diploid cells, the implications of DNA changes during mitosis, and the importance of heredity in species survival and adaptation. Key concepts include the role of chromosomes and genes in inheritance and the variation within species.

Uploaded by

mrniazi844
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Science 8, Chapter 1, Solved exercise

Grade 8 Science
Chapter 1

Solved
Exercise

1
Science 8, Chapter 1, Solved exercise

Chapter 1
A. Choose the correct option against each statement.

1. c

2. c

3. c

4. a

5. c

2
Science 8, Chapter 1, Solved exercise

1. Long Legs and River Environment

Here are some reasons why long legs might be helpful for animals living near a river:

 Wading: They can wade deeper into the water to find food or escape
predators.
 Navigation: They can navigate uneven terrain or obstacles like rocks and
logs in the riverbed.
 Running: They can outrun predators in open areas near the riverbank.

2. DNA Decoding Flowchart

DNA in the nucleus mRNA travels out Ribosomes in the


is copied into a of the nucleus to cytoplasm use the
single-stranded the cytoplasm. mRNA code to
RNA molecule assemble amino
(messenger RNA). acids into a protein.

The protein performs a specific


function in the cell, influencing
the organism's traits.

3. Puppies Digging Holes

The puppies are likely digging holes for a few reasons:

 Learned behaviour: They are imitating their mother's behaviour, which is a


natural instinct for dogs to bury objects.
 Play behaviour: Digging can be a fun and stimulating activity for young dogs.

4. Haploid vs. Diploid Cells

3
Science 8, Chapter 1, Solved exercise

Feature Haploid Cell Diploid Cell


Number of One (n) Two (2n) - one from
Chromosome Sets each parent
Examples Sperm, egg cells Body cells, muscle
cells, nerve cells

5. DNA Change During Mitosis

 Mitosis is cell division for growth and repair.


 If a DNA change (mutation) occurs during mitosis, it will not directly affect the
next generation.
 This is because mutations in body cells (diploid) are not passed on to
offspring. Only mutations in sex cells (haploid) can be inherited.

ANSWER-1: See article 1.5.2 given on page 12, 13 of CSS Science textbook.

ANSWER-2:

Heredity is the process by which parents pass on their characteristics to their


offspring. It's like a biological instruction manual that determines how an organism
will look, behave, and even some of its abilities. This transfer of traits is essential for
the survival and continuity of species.

Importance of Heredity

 Species preservation: Offspring inherit the traits that helped their parents
survive and reproduce in their environment. For example, a cheetah's offspring
inherits its parents' speed and agility for hunting prey on the African savanna.

 Adaptation: Through heredity, small changes in traits can accumulate over


generations. This allows populations to adapt to changing environments. For
instance, some polar bear populations may inherit thicker fur for better insulation
in a warming climate.
 Variation within species: While offspring inherit traits from parents, there's
always some variation. This variation helps populations survive if the environment
changes. For example, some penguin chicks might inherit slightly different beak
shapes, allowing them to access a wider variety of food sources.

Mechanisms of Heredity

4
Science 8, Chapter 1, Solved exercise

The instructions for building an organism are carried in genes, which are located on
chromosomes within the cell nucleus. Think of genes as recipes that determine an
organism's characteristics.

 Chromosomes: These are thread-like structures containing genes. Humans


have 23 pairs of chromosomes, inheriting one set from each parent. (Imagine
each chromosome as a recipe book)
 Genes: These are specific instructions within chromosomes that code for
specific traits. For example, a gene might determine eye colour or fur pattern.
(Imagine each gene as a specific recipe for a particular characteristic)

Conclusion

Heredity plays a crucial role in ensuring the survival of species by passing on


essential traits and allowing for adaptation. By understanding the mechanisms of
heredity, we can appreciate the incredible diversity of life on Earth.

Common questions

Powered by AI

Variations within a species provide a genetic diversity pool that allows some individuals to survive environmental changes better than others. This diversity can lead to different adaptations, such as penguin chicks with varying beak shapes accessing a broader range of food sources, enhancing the population's overall survival chances in changing environments .

Heredity contributes to species' adaptation through the transfer of traits that helped ancestors survive in their environment. Small changes in traits can accumulate over generations, allowing populations to adapt to new conditions. For instance, inherited traits such as thicker fur in some polar bears provide better insulation in warming climates, or slight variations like different beak shapes in penguins enable access to diverse food sources .

DNA changes during mitosis generally do not affect subsequent generations as mitosis occurs in diploid body cells, and mutations in these cells are not heritable. For a mutation to impact the next generation, it must occur in haploid sex cells, where genetic changes can be passed to offspring during reproduction .

Haploid cells contain one set of chromosomes (n), such as sperm and egg cells, whereas diploid cells have two sets of chromosomes (2n), with one set from each parent, such as body cells, muscle cells, and nerve cells .

DNA replication is crucial for cell division, specifically mitosis, as it ensures each daughter cell receives an identical copy of the genetic material. This process supports organismal growth and repair, maintaining genetic consistency across body cells while allowing for expansion and maintenance of tissues and organs .

Long legs are beneficial for animals living near river environments as they enable wading, which helps animals reach deeper water to find food or escape predators, aids in navigating uneven terrain or obstacles like rocks and logs in the riverbed, and improves the ability to outrun predators in open areas near the riverbank .

Puppies may dig holes due to learned behavior, imitating their mother's natural instinct to bury objects. It can also be a form of play behavior, offering fun and stimulation to young dogs .

Mutations during mitosis are not passed on to offspring because mitosis occurs in diploid body cells, which do not contribute genetic material to the next generation. Only mutations in haploid sex cells, like sperm or eggs, can be inherited by offspring .

Species preservation through heredity is achieved by transferring traits that helped parents survive to the offspring. These inherited traits, like a cheetah's speed and agility, increase the likelihood of survival and reproduction in similar environments. This process ensures continuity and evolutionary fitness of the species over time despite changes in the environment .

Chromosomes are thread-like structures within the cell nucleus that carry genes, the specific instructions for traits. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, receiving one set from each parent, analogous to recipe books. Genes within chromosomes code for specific traits, similar to specific recipes, such as eye color or fur patterns. This genetic information guides the development and functioning of organisms .

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