Answer key

SECTION A

 1. Mendel proposed that every character is controlled by-

o two factors

 2. Which of the following scientists gave the principles of inheritance?

o Mendel

 3. Select the group which shares the maximum number of common characters-

o Two individuals of a species

 4. According to the evolutionary theory formation of a new species occurs

generally due to-

o accumulation of variations over several generations

 5. Which of the following is not correct-

o (d) For every molecule of fat there is a gene.

 6. The concept of origin of species by natural selection was given by.

o (c) Darwin

 7. If a round green seeded pea plant (RRYY) is crossed with wrinkled yellow seeded
pea plant (rr yy) the seeds to be produced in F1 generation will be.

o (d) round and yellow

 8. The genetic constitution of an organism is called.

o (a) Genotype

 Query successful

Section II: Questions Worth 2 Marks

Based on the provided document, here are the answers to the questions worth 2 marks.
1. Why are acquired traits not inherited? Acquired traits are not inherited because they
cause changes in the non-reproductive cells of an organism. These changes cannot be
passed on to the organism's offspring. Only changes in the genetic material (DNA) of the
reproductive cells can be inherited.

2. Why do human beings who look so different from each other belong to the same
species? Humans belong to the same species because we share a common gene pool and
can interbreed to produce fertile offspring. Although there are differences in size, color, and
looks, these variations are minor genetic differences within the human species. All humans
share the same basic body plan and genetic makeup.

3. Which organisms have a better body design in evolutionary terms? In evolutionary

terms, it's not possible to say that one organism has a "better" body design than another.
The concept of evolution is not about creating better or more advanced organisms. Instead,
it's about the accumulation of variations over several generations that allow organisms to
survive and reproduce in their specific environments. Therefore, a spider's body design is
well-suited for its environment, just as a chimpanzee's is for its own. Every organism's body
design is a result of adaptations to its unique surroundings.

 Query successful

Answer Section III Questions

13. State three laws of Mendel.

Mendel's three laws of inheritance are:

1. Law of Dominance: This law states that when two different alleles are present for a
trait, one allele, the dominant one, will be expressed, while the other, the recessive
one, will be masked. For example, if a plant has one allele for purple flowers and one
for white flowers, and purple is dominant, the plant will have purple flowers.

2. Law of Segregation: This law states that during the formation of gametes (sex cells),
the two alleles for a trait separate or "segregate" from each other, so each gamete
receives only one allele. This ensures that the offspring receives one allele from each
parent.

3. Law of Independent Assortment: This law states that alleles for different traits are
passed to offspring independently of one another. For example, the allele for flower
 color is inherited separately from the allele for plant height. This leads to a variety of
combinations of traits in the offspring.

14. Describe how the sex of the offspring is determined in the zygote in human beings.

In humans, sex is determined by the combination of sex chromosomes inherited from the
parents. Females have two X chromosomes (XX), while males have one X and one Y
chromosome (XY).

 During reproduction, the female can only produce gametes (eggs) containing an X
chromosome.

 The male, however, can produce two types of gametes (sperm): one containing an X
chromosome and one containing a Y chromosome.

 When a sperm fertilizes an egg, the combination of these chromosomes determines

the sex of the offspring.

o If a sperm carrying an X chromosome fertilizes the egg, the resulting zygote

will have XX chromosomes, and the offspring will be female.

o If a sperm carrying a Y chromosome fertilizes the egg, the resulting zygote will
have XY chromosomes, and the offspring will be male.

Therefore, it is the male's sperm that determines the sex of the child.

15. Give difference between diploid and haploid.

Feature Diploid Haploid

Chromosome Contains two complete sets of Contains one complete set of

Number chromosomes. Represented as 2n. chromosomes. Represented as n.

Found in somatic (body) cells, such as Found in gametes (sex cells),

Cell Type
skin, muscle, and nerve cells. such as sperm and egg cells.

Result of fertilization where two haploid Result of meiosis, a type of cell

Origin
gametes fuse. division.

Contains homologous pairs of Contains a single set of

Genetic
chromosomes, with one chromosome chromosomes, without
Information
from each parent. homologous pairs.

Humans, animals, and most plants are Sperm and egg cells in animals,
Examples
diploid organisms. and spores in plants.
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16. Write similarities between Mendel's factors and genes.

Mendel's "factors" are now understood to be genes. Here are the key similarities between
the two concepts:

 Both factors and genes are the fundamental units of heredity that control traits or
characteristics.

 Both exist in pairs within an organism, with one coming from each parent.

 Both are passed from parents to offspring without blending, retaining their individual
identities.

 Both can exist in alternative forms, which we now call alleles.

 Both factors and genes determine the observable characteristics (phenotype) of an

organism.

 Query successful

Section 4
17. What is phenotypic ratio obtained by Mendel by monohybrid clots?
Answer with the help of diagram.

Mendel's monohybrid cross involves crossing two parent plants that are different in only one
characteristic, such as pea plants with yellow seeds and pea plants with green seeds. In the
first filial (F1) generation, all the offspring will display the dominant trait. For example, if a
purebred plant with dominant yellow seeds (YY) is crossed with a purebred plant with
recessive green seeds (yy), all the F1 generation offspring will have yellow seeds (Yy). When
the F1 generation is self-pollinated, the offspring in the second filial (F2) generation will
show both the dominant and recessive traits in a specific ratio. The

phenotypic ratio for a monohybrid cross is 3:1.

This means that for every four offspring, there will be three individuals showing the
dominant trait (like yellow seeds) and one individual showing the recessive trait (like green
seeds).

18. Why are asexually reproducing organisms capable of showing hereditary

features?
Asexually reproducing organisms are capable of showing hereditary features because they
pass on genetic material from a single parent to their offspring. The offspring produced
through asexual reproduction are genetically identical clones of the parent, which means they
inherit all the characteristics and traits of that parent. Any variations that occur in asexually
reproducing organisms are generally the result of random mutations, not the shuffling of
genes from two parents as seen in sexual reproduction. This direct inheritance of the parent's
genetic information is the basis for their hereditary features.

Section V
Question 19: Give the basic features of the mechanism of inheritance.

The basic features of the mechanism of inheritance include:

 Factors/Genes: According to Mendel's proposal, every character is controlled by two

factors. These factors are now known as genes.
 Dominance and Recessiveness: In a pair of contrasting traits, one factor is dominant,
and the other is recessive. The dominant factor expresses itself, while the recessive
one is masked in the presence of the dominant factor.
 Segregation: During gamete formation, the two factors for a character separate or
segregate from each other so that each gamete receives only one factor.
 Independent Assortment: The inheritance of one pair of factors is independent of
the inheritance of other pairs. This means that different traits are inherited
independently of each other.

Question 20:

(i) Who provided the evidence of DNA as genetic material?

The question asks for the scientist who provided the evidence of DNA as genetic material.
While the provided text doesn't explicitly state the answer, the names of scientists like
Griffith, and Watson and Crick are mentioned. Frederick Griffith's experiments in 1928, and
later experiments by Avery, MacLeod, and McCarty, and Hershey and Chase provided
crucial evidence that DNA is the genetic material.

(ii) Why is DNA called a polynucleotide?

DNA is called a polynucleotide because it is a polymer made up of many repeating monomer

units called nucleotides. Each nucleotide consists of three parts: a deoxyribose sugar, a
phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base (Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine, or Thymine). These
nucleotides link together to form a long chain, or polymer.

(iii) List three important features of the double helical model of DNA.

The double helical model of DNA, as proposed by Watson and Crick, has several key
features:
  It consists of two polynucleotide chains that are coiled around a common axis to form
a double helix.
 The two strands run in opposite directions (antiparallel).
 The sugar-phosphate backbone forms the outside of the helix, while the nitrogenous
bases are stacked inside.
 The two strands are held together by hydrogen bonds between the bases: adenine (A)
always pairs with thymine (T), and guanine (G) always pairs with cytosine (C).

(iv) Outline a project which aims to find the dominant coat color in dogs.

Here is an outline for a project to find the dominant coat color in dogs:

1. Objective: To determine the dominant coat color in a population of dogs.

2. Hypothesis: A specific coat color (e.g., black) is dominant over other colors (e.g.,
brown, white).
3. Methodology:
o Data Collection: Select a group of dogs with different coat colors and their
known pedigrees (at least two generations).
o Cross-breeding/Observation: Observe the coat colors of the offspring from
different pairings of parent dogs with known coat colors. For instance, cross a
purebred dog with black fur with a purebred dog with brown fur.
o Analysis: Analyze the phenotypic ratios of the offspring. If a particular coat
color (e.g., black) appears in the F1 generation from a cross between two
purebred parents with different colors, and then reappears in a 3:1 ratio in the
F2 generation, it is likely the dominant trait.
4. Conclusion: Based on the observed inheritance patterns and phenotypic ratios,
conclude which coat color is dominant.