Heredity and Evolution

What is speciation? Explain in brief the role of natural selection and genetic drift in this process. (Foreign 2016)

Speciation is the process through which new species arise from already existing ones. In the process of speciation, both genetic drift and natural selection are crucial. Natural selection is the process through which nature chooses features that are advantageous to the species in a particular environment. For example, beetles change their colour when they reproduce. …

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Describe any three ways in which individuals with a particular trait may increase in population. (AI 2011)

There are three ways the population of people with a specific trait may grow:(i) Genetic drift: This is the random change in gene frequency that results from random fluctuations In this scenario, a particular characteristic with limited adaptive value and a survival advantage may become more common. (ii)Natural selection is the process through which nature …

Describe any three ways in which individuals with a particular trait may increase in population. (AI 2011) Read More »

“An individual cannot pass on to its progeny the experiences of its lifetime”. Justify the statement with the help of an example and also give a reason for the same. (Foreign 2012)

If we breed many mice, every mouse that is born will have a tail like its parents. Now, if we surgically remove the tails and then breed the mice once more, we continue to produce mice with tails. This is due to the fact that removing a mouse’s tail does not alter the genes in …

“An individual cannot pass on to its progeny the experiences of its lifetime”. Justify the statement with the help of an example and also give a reason for the same. (Foreign 2012) Read More »

With the help of two suitable examples, explain why certain experiences and traits earned by people during their lifetime are not passed on to their next generations. When can such traits be passed on? (AI 2017)

The fact that a person acquires certain experiences and attributes throughout his or her lifetime prevents such experiences and traits from being passed on to future generations. These are not characteristics that man is born with, and he cannot pass them on to his offspring. The following examples could clarify these better: (j) A child …

With the help of two suitable examples, explain why certain experiences and traits earned by people during their lifetime are not passed on to their next generations. When can such traits be passed on? (AI 2017) Read More »

define genetics. Why is decrease in the number of surviving tigers a cause of concern from the point of view of genetics? Explain briefly. (AI 2019)

The branch of biology called genetics is involved with the study of heredity and variation. William Bateson first used the word “genetics” in 1906. Small populations have fewer and narrower variances, which results in less variety and less variation in traits. From a genetic view, the fact that there are so few surviving tigers is concerning …

define genetics. Why is decrease in the number of surviving tigers a cause of concern from the point of view of genetics? Explain briefly. (AI 2019) Read More »

List two differences between acquired traits and inherited traits by giving an example of each. (Delhi 2019)

Acquired trait:A personality trait that an individual develops as a result of external effects is known as an acquired trait.Inherited trait:Traits that are inherited are those that transfer from parents to offspring. Genes control the inherited characteristics of an individual. Differences between the inherited traits and acquired traits are as follows : Inherited traits Acquired …

List two differences between acquired traits and inherited traits by giving an example of each. (Delhi 2019) Read More »

Why do mice whose tails were surgically removed just after birth for generations, continue to produce mice with tails? (Foreign 2014)

A group of mice will normally breed, and every offspring will have a tail. Therefore, tail-less mice won’t be generated if the tails of these mice are surgically removed after each generation. This is the case due to the acquired nature of mice’s tail removal, which is not passed down to the next generations. The mice’s …

Why do mice whose tails were surgically removed just after birth for generations, continue to produce mice with tails? (Foreign 2014) Read More »

Write the contribution of Charles Darwin in the field of evolution. (Delhi 2014)

Charles Darwin decided to make a major contribution to the field of evolution by stating that only organisms that can adapt to changing environmental conditions can survive. He also asserted that natural selection is a process that plays a significant role in the evolution of plants and animals by selecting organisms that have traits that …

Write the contribution of Charles Darwin in the field of evolution. (Delhi 2014) Read More »

(a) Why did Mendel choose garden pea for his experiments ? Write two reasons.
(b) List two contrasting visible characters of garden pea Mendel used for his experiment.
(c) Explain in brief how Mendel interpreted his results to show that the traits may be dominant or recessive. (Foreign 2016)

Garden peas were Mendel’s initial selection for his experiment because: (I) It was simple to grow and shows some distinct contrastive traits, such as some pea plants being tall and others being dwarf.(ii) Pea plants are self-pollinating, which allows for the production of numerous generations in a very short amount of time. (a) Mendel observed the …

(a) Why did Mendel choose garden pea for his experiments ? Write two reasons.
(b) List two contrasting visible characters of garden pea Mendel used for his experiment.
(c) Explain in brief how Mendel interpreted his results to show that the traits may be dominant or recessive. (Foreign 2016)
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