Question bank - Heredity and Evolution 1

H EREDITY AND EVOLUTION

GLOSSARY

1. HEREDITY: - The transmission of characters from the parents to their offspring’s is called heredity.
2. VARIATION: - The differences in the characters among the individuals of a species in called
variation.
3. CHROMOSOME: - Chromosome is a thread-like structure in the nucleus of a cell formed of DNA
which carries the gene.
4. GENE: - A gene is a unit of DNA on a chromosome which governs the synthesis of one protein that
controls a specific characteristic of an organism.
5. DOMINANT GENE: - The gene which decides the appearance of an organism even in the presence
of an alternative gene is known as a dominant gene. It dominated the recessive gene for the same
characteristic on the other chromosome of the pair.
6. RECESSIVE GENE: - The gene which can decide the appearance of an organism only in the
presence of another identical gene is called a recessive gene.
7. GENOTYPE: - Genotype is the description of genes present in an organism and represented as a
pair of letters TT, Tt or tt.
8. PHENOTYPE: - The characteristic which is visible in an organism is called its phenotype and ‘tall’
or ‘dwarf‘. [ external appearance of organism]
9. FIRST FILIAL GENERATION OR F1 GENERATION: - The progeny obtained by crossing two
homozygous parents.
10. SECOND FILIAL GENERATION OR F2 GENERATION: - When the first generation progeny
cross among themselves to produce second progeny, then this progeny is called second filial
generation or F2 generation
11. HYBRID: - A new form of plant resulting from a cross of different varieties of a plant.
12. GENETIC DRIFT: Genetic drift is the phenomenon whereby chance or random events change the
allele frequencies in a population. Eg – death of sps due to natural calamity, migration etc ….
13. ACQUIRED TRAITS: Traits which are acquired by an organism during its life time and cannot be
passed on to the progeny
14. INHERITED TRAITS: Traits which are inherited by an organism from its parents and can be
passed on to the progeny.
15. SPECIATION: The origin of new species from the pre-existing species is called speciation.
16. MICRO EVOLUTION :It is the evolution which is on a small scale. [A change within a gene pool
occurring from generation to generation is called microevolution. e.g. Change in body colour of
beetles.]
17. SPECIES: A group of similar individuals that belong to a population that can interbreed and
produce fertile off spring.
18. HOMOLOGOUS ORGANS: The organs of similar structure and origin but dissimilar in form and
function are called homologous organs.
19. ANALOGOUS ORGANS: The organs that perform the same function but differ in their origin and
structure are called analogous organs.
20. FOSSILS : Preserved traces of living organisms are called fossils
21. EVOLUTION: The gradual unfolding of organisms from pre-existing organisms through change
since the origin of life
22. ARTIFICIAL SELECTION : Artificial selection is a process in by which man selects trait(s) useful
to him for improving the qualities of domesticated plants and animals.

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY, 9 & 10 BOYS SECTION, THE INDIAN HIGH SCHOOL DUBAI
Question bank - Heredity and Evolution 2

1. Who is considered as “ Father of Genetics”?

Gregor Johann Mendel (1822-1884) is known as 'Father of Genetics'.

2. Name the experimental material selected by Gregor Mendel. Why did he choose this
plant for experiments ?
- Experimental Material: - Mendel close garden pea (Pisum sativum) for his
experiments. He chose this plant because-
1 - It had number of contrasting characters.
2 - It is small & easy to grow
3 - It reproduces a large number of offsprings and completes its life cycle in one season.
4 - A large number of true breeding varieties are available

3. Define a monohybrid cross.

Cross between two pea plants with one pair of (monohybrid cross) contrasting characters.
Example: Tall / Short Plants.

4. Explain Mendel’s experiment with peas on inheritance of characters considering only

one visible contrasting character.
Or
How did Mendel interpret his result to show that traits may be dominant or recessive?
Describe briefly
Or
With the help of an example justify the following statement: “A trait may be inherited,
but may not be expressed”.
Or
Represent schematically a monohybrid cross.

Mendel conducted breeding experiments with garden peas--

a) He studied (pure) plants of a tall/short varieties.
b) He crossed them and obtained F1 progeny.
c) He found that F1 progeny was all tall plants. [ Tallness is dominant]
d) He selfed the (hybrid) plants of F1 progeny.
e) He found that in F2 progeny 3/4th of the plants were tall and 1/4th was dwarf.
f) The trait which remains
hidden in F1 generation plants
is the recessive traits.

Reappearance of dwarf
characters in F2 generation
proves that the dwarf trait was
inherited but not expressed in
F1 generation.
(Or any other contrasting
character may be taken.)

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5. List two differences in tabular form between dominant trait and recessive traits. What
percentage/proportion of the plants in the F2 generation/progeny were round, in
Mendel’s cross between round and wrinkled pea plants?

Dominant trait Recessive trait

1. The trait which appears in both F1 and F The trait which doesn’t appear or remain
2 generation and expressed by a hidden in the F1 generation and expressed by
dominant allele the recessive allele
2. Appears in homo and heterozygous Appears only in homozygous condition of
condition of genotypes genotypes
3. Appears more in numbers Appears less in numbers
75%of the plants were with round seeds

6. In one of his experiments with pea plants Mendel observed that when a pure tall pea
plant is crossed with a pure dwarf pea plant, in the first generation, F 1 only tall
plants appear.
(a) What happens to the traits of the dwarf plants in this case?
(b) When the F 1 generation plants were self-fertilized, he observed that in the plants
of second generation, F2 both tall plants and dwarf plants were present. Why it
happened? Explain briefly. [3 marks]

a) The dwarf trait of the plants is not expressed in the presence of the dominant tall trait. [ 1]
b) In the F2 generation, both the tall and dwarf traits are present in the ratio of 3:1. This
showed that the traits for tallness and dwarfness are present in the F1 generation, but the
dwarfness, being the recessive trait does not express itself in the presence of tallness, the
dominant trait. [2]

7. In a monohybrid cross between tall pea plants (TT) and short pea plants (tt) a
scientist obtained only tall pea plants (Tt) in the F 1 generation. However, on selfing
the F 1 generation pea plants, he obtained both tall and short plants in F2 generation.
On the basis of above observations with other angiosperms also, can the scientist
arrive at a law? If yes, explain the law. If not, give justification for your answer [3
marks]

Yes [1]
1. Law of Dominance: -
(i) Characters are controlled by discrete units called factors.
(ii) Factors occur in pairs.
(iii) In a dissimilar pair of factors one member of the pair dominates (dominant) the other
(recessive). The trait which is expressed in F1 and F2 is called a dominant trait and which
remains hidden in the F1 is called recessive trait.
[Factors are now known as gene/alleles]

8. Define a dihybrid cross

A cross which involves two characters is called a dihybrid cross.

9. How do Mendel’s experiments show that traits are inherited independently?

Or
Represent schematically a dihybrid cross.

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Question bank - Heredity and Evolution 4
When a cross was made between a tall pea plant with round seeds and a short pea plant with
wrinkled seeds, the F1 progeny plants are all tall with round seeds: this indicates that tallness
and round seeds are the dominant traits.
-When the F1 plants are self-pollinated the F2 progeny consisted of some tall plants with round
seeds and some short plants with wrinkled seeds which are the parental traits
- There were also some new combinations like tall plants with wrinkled seeds & short plants
with round seed
-Thus it may be concluded that tall and short traits and round and wrinkled seed traits have
been inherited independently

10. How do germ-cells make a single set of genes from the normal two copies that all other
cells in the body have?
-Each cell will have two copies of each chromosome, one each from the male and female parents.
--Every germ cell will take one chromosome from each pair and these may be of either maternal
or paternal origin.
-During the formation of germ cells in the sex organs, meiosis takes place and the chromosome
number is halved, so that the germ cells become haploid[n] with half of the chromosome
number of the parent cell which is diploid [2n]
-When two germ cells combine, they will restore the normal number of chromosomes in
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Question bank - Heredity and Evolution 5

- the progeny, ensuring the stability of the DNA of the species

11. How do the traits get expressed?

A section of DNA that provides information for one protein is called the gene for that protein.
Example: tallness as a characteristic. Plant height can depend on the amount of a particular
plant hormone
A section of DNA→ gene →provides information →for synthesis of proteins → proteins control
the character.
Gene T → Responsible for synthesis of efficient enzyme [protein] →more production of growth
hormone →results in tall plants
Gene t → Responsible for synthesis of less efficient enzyme →less production of growth
hormone →results in short plants

12. What is sex determination? Mention the two ways by which its determined in animals.
-It is the phenomenon of decision of sex of an offspring.

13. Explain the mechanism of sex determination in human beings.

• The genetic make up of the sperm determines the sex of the child.
• In each pregnancy there is always 50% probability of either a male or a female.
• Autosomes are chromosomes which have no relation with sex and contain genes that determine
the somatic characteristics- 22 pairs
• Allosomes are responsible for the determination of sex – 1 pair –XX in female and XY in male.

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14. Illustrate with an example, how natural selection can lead to speciation [ Situation 1]

Or
Explain how the origin of colour variation in a population of red beetles to green
beetles caused survival advantage and speciation .
Group of red beetles
↓
colour variation arises during sexual reproduction
All beetles red except one one green beetle
which is green
↓ ↓reproduction
Crows feed on red beetle progeny beetles green
↓ ↓
No of red beetle decreases crows could not feed on green beetles
as they got camouflaged in green
bushes
↓
No of green beetles increases.

Green beetles got the survival advantage or they were naturally selected as they were not
visible in green bushes. This natural selection is exerted by crows resulting in adaptations in
the beetles to fit better in their environment.

15. “Accidents can change the frequency of some genes even if they do not get survival
advantage”. Justify the statement with an example
Or
Explain how the origin of color variation in a population of red beetles to blue
beetles caused survival advantage and speciation by genetic drift .

Group of red beetles

Reproduction and variation

All beetles red except one one blue beetle

↓reproduce ↓reproduce
Number of red beetle increases
Number of blue beetles increases
↓ ↓

Crows can see both blue and red beetles and eat them
↓
Number reduces, still red beetles more than blue one
↓
Suddenly elephant comes and stamps on the green bushes
↓
Mostly red beetles are killed

Few blue beetles that survived, slowly expand their population.

From this we can conclude that accidents can change the frequency of some genes even if they do not
get survival advantage: This is called genetic drift and it leads to variation.

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16. Illustrate with an example how variations in somatic features many not be inherited .[
situation 3]
Group of red beetles → Habitat of beetles (bushes) suffer from plant disease → Average weight of
beetles decreases due to poor nourishment → No of beetles kept on reducing → later plant disease gets
eliminated→ Number and average weight of the beetles increases again

No genetic change has occurred in the population of beetle. The population gets affected for a short
duration only due to environmental change[ somatic changes are not inherited ]

17. Differentiate between acquired and inherited traits.

Acquired traits Inherited traits.

Traits which are acquired by an organism during
its life time and cannot be passed on to the
progeny
Caused due to Somatic variations[ do not bring
changes in the DNA of germ cells]
Cannot direct evolution
Traits which are inherited by an organism
from its parents and can be passed on to the
progeny
Caused due to Germinal variations[ Bring
changes in the DNA of germ cells in gonads]
Can direct evolution

Acquired traits develop due to effects of
environmental factors, use or disuse of organs.
Eg- Decrease in the body weight of beetles due to
starvation is an acquired trait , by the beetles
during their life time.
Inherited traits develop due to reshuffling of
genetic material and mutations
Eg – inheriting the eye colour, blood group etc
from parents

18. Why the traits acquired by an individual during its life time are not inherited?

1. Acquired traits develop due to changes in the somatic cells[ non-reproductive tissues]
2. Change in non-reproductive tissues cannot be passed on to the DNA of the germ cells.
3. Characters can be inherited only if the changes occur in DNA of germ cells.

19. “The acquired changes during a lifetime are not inherited by the progeny”. Illustrate
with an example.
If a group of mice having tail will breed, their progeny will also have the same type of tail but if
the tail of all the mice is removed by surgery in each generation, no tailless mouse will be
produced even after a few generations. It is because the removal of tail is a physical change
which could not make a change in the gene responsible for the presence of tail in mice.

20. The ideas of heredity and genetics are so essential for understanding evolution. Why ?
-Because the origin of new species occurs due to accumulation of variations that organisms
inherit from their parents.

21. Explain any four ways by which allelic frequencies may change in a population [
Explain the fundamental forces of evolution] [ Explain the factors that cause
speciation]
1. Gene flow: Gene flow refers to changes in allele frequency that result from migration of
individuals between populations. Thus, it involves exchange of genetic material by
interbreeding between populations of same species or individuals
2. Gene Mutation –Mutations are random, heritable changes in DNA that can alter gene
expression. A large mutation can make some members reproductively isolated from the rest. It
leads to the rise of a new species.

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Question bank - Heredity and Evolution 8
3. Genetic drift –It is the random change in the frequency of alleles [gene pairs] in a
population over successive generations due to changes in DNA or chromosomes.
4.Natural Selection: - The process by which organisms that are better suited to their
environment than others are selected by nature and produce more offspring is called natural
selection.
[ Only mutation can create new genetic variation. The other three forces simply rearrange this
variation within and among populations.]

22. List three factors that provide evidences in favor of evolution in organisms and state
the role of each in brief

Three factors / evidences and their roles

1. Homologous organs: - The organs of similar structure and origin but dissimilar in form and
function are called homologous organs .Homology indicates common ancestry
2. Analogous organs:-The organs that perform the same function, but differ in their origin and
structure are called analogous organs.
3. Fossils: Preserved traces of living organisms are called fossils -Provide evidences of evolution
[information about extinct species], Reveal the characteristics of the past organism and the
changes that have occurred in these organisms to give rise to the present organism on any
four tools/organs that can help to trace evolutionary relationships

23. What are homologous organs ? Illustrate with examples.

The organs of similar structure and origin but dissimilar in form and function are called
homologous organs
Examples
1. Whales, bats, Cheetah and human (all mammals) share similarities in the pattern of
bones of forelimbs- have humerus, radius, ulna, carpals, metacarpals and phalanges in
their forelimbs. In these animals, the same structure developed along different
directions due to adaptations to different needs.
2. The thorn of Bougainvillea and tendril of Cucurbita – both are modifications of axillary
buds, but perform different function.

24. Explain the evolutionary significance of homologous organs

1. Homology indicates common ancestry-[ common evolutionary origin of amphibians, reptiles,
birds and mammals from some ancient fish ancestor]
2. Homologous organs help to identify an evolutionary relationship between apparently
different species
25. What are analogous organs? Illustrate with example
The organs that perform the same function but differ in their origin and structure are
called analogous organs.
Examples :
a) Wings of butterfly and of birds
b) Wings of bat [mammal] and bird
c) Tubers of Sweet potato (root modification) and potato (stem modification)

26. Why are wings of butterfly and birds considered analogous ?

- Wings of butterfly and of birds are not anatomically similar structures though they perform
similar functions.
- An insect wing is a fold of membrane (an extension of integument), supported with few muscles.
Wing of a bird is formed of limb bones covered with flesh, skin and feathers.

27. Wings of bat [mammal] and bird are considered as analogous structures. Justify
- Wings of bat are skin folds stretched mainly between elongated fingers.
- Wings of birds are a feathery covering all along the arm.
- The structure and components of the two wings are thus very different.
- They look similar because they have a common use for flying, but their origins are not common.

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28. Explain the evolutionary significance of analogous organs

• Analogous structures are a result of convergent evolution – different structures evolving
for the same function and hence having similarity
• It is the similar habitat that has resulted in selection of similar adaptive features in
different groups of organisms but toward the same function

29. Define characteristics

Characteristics of organisms refer to the details of external and internal appearance or
behaviour that distinguish them from one another.

30. “Two areas of study namely “evolution” and “classification” are interlinked. Justify
this statement
- Different forms of organisms/ life have evolved during the course of evolution, and classification
deals with grouping of these organisms into groups and subgroups based on their similarities
and differences.
- Classification of species is reflection of their evolutionary relationship.
- The more characteristic two species have in common → more closely related →more recently
they have a common ancestor.
- Similarities among organisms allow us to group them together and to study their
characteristics.
- Thus, classification helps tracing the evolutionary relationships between the organisms hence
evolution and classification are interlinked

31. What is meant by speciation? List four factors that could lead to speciation. Which of
these cannot be a major factor in the speciation of a self-pollinating plant species?
Give reason to justify your answer

Speciation: - The process of formation of a new species from a pre-existing one. [

• Four factors: Genetic drift Mutation / Drastic change in the genes or DNA Natural selection
Geographical isolation [4 x ½ = 2]
• Geographical isolation cannot be a major factor in the speciation of a self-pollinating plant
species. [1]
• Reason: - Physical barrier cannot be created in self-pollinating plants.

32. What are fossils? How are they formed ?

Preserved traces of living organisms are called fossils
They are formed due to the natural preservation of non-decomposed part in an organism or
seen in the form of imprints formed on the rocks
If a dead insect gets caught in hot mud, it will not decompose quickly, and the mud will
eventually harden and retain the impression of the body parts of the insect.

33. List the sequence of steps involved in fossil formation on a sea-bed .

Sea –bed – invertebrates die and get buried
Sand accumulates- sandstone forms under pressure
Dinosaurs living in the area die- buried in mud
Mud compressed into rock above sandstone
Horse-like creatures die and fossilized in the rocks above these earlier rocks
Soil erosion or water flow wears away some of rocks and exposes fossils.

34. List any two methods for determining the age of fossils.
1. Relative method- Fossils closer to the surface of earth is more recent than the fossils in the
deeper layer.
2. Carbon-Dating method-This method detects the ratio of different isotopes of the same
element in the fossil material.

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35. Explain (Represent schematically) the role of genetic drift and natural selection in
speciation/evolution.

36. Define evolution. How does it occur? Describe how fossils provide us in support of
evolution
Evolution- The gradual unfolding of organisms from pre-existing organisms through change
since the origin of life
It occurs because there is an inbuilt tendency to variation during reproduction due to errors in
DNA copying and as a result of sexual reproduction.

37. Explain the role of fossils in studying evolution process.

1. Provide evidences of evolution [ information about extinct species]
2. Reveal the characteristics of the past organism and the changes that have occurred in these
organisms to give rise to the present organism
3. Helps to identify an evolutionary relationship between apparently different species.
4. Helps to identify the connecting links between different group of organisms
5. Analysis of organ structure in fossils allows to make estimate of how far back evolutionary
relationships go

38. Explain the fitness advantage of eyes.

• Flat worms like planaria has rudimentary eyes- enough to give fitness advantage [detect
light]
• Insects have compound eyes
• Humans have binocular eyes.

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Question bank - Heredity and Evolution 11
39. Explain the evolutionary significance of feathers in birds.
Feathers →provide insulation in cold weather, but later might become useful for flight.

40. How can we conclude that birds have evolved from reptiles?
Dinosaurs had feathers, which were developed to provide insulation in cold weather. Later,
birds developed feathers to fly, which shows that birds have evolved from reptiles, since
dinosaurs were reptiles.

41. Define artificial selection. How has this process helped in the evolution of new
varieties of vegetables from wild cabbage?
Artificial selection is a process in by which man selects trait(s) useful to him for improving the
qualities of domesticated plants and animals
Humans over two thousand years through cultivation and artificial selection have generated
different vegetables according to the choice and need.
1) Cabbage –very short distance between the leaves
2) Broccoli -Arrested flower development
3) cauliflower -Sterile flower
4) Kohlrabi -Swollen parts
5) kale -Large leaves

42. Explain the role of molecular phylogeny in studying evolutionary relationships.

- Molecular phylogeny is the analysis of hereditary molecular differences, mainly in DNA
sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships.
- The result of a molecular phylogenetic analysis is expressed in a phylogenetic tree.
- It is based on the idea that changes in DNA during reproduction are the basic events in
evolution
- Organisms which are more distantly related will accumulate greater differences in their DNA

43. List any four tools for studying human evolution

Excavating, Time-dating, studying fossils, determining DNA sequences.

44. Why are human beings who look so different from each other in terms of size, color
and looks said to belong to the same species?
Although human beings look so different from each other in terms of size, color and looks, but
all of them belong to same species (Homo sapiens) because of the following reasons:
1. All human beings belong to same species and are able to interbreed.
2. Fossil evidences prove that Archaic Homo sapiens arose in South Africa and moved across
continents and developed into distinct races during the ice age.
3. Fossil evidence shows that humans have not changed much anatomically over the last 200
000 years.
45. Identify the following fossils .

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY, 9 & 10 BOYS SECTION, THE INDIAN HIGH SCHOOL DUBAI