Frozan Sultani

ID 21606
Discussion 02

Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance

The work of Gregor Mendel, the inventor of genetics, was formerly one of the scientific
discoveries that experts did not acknowledge. He created well beyond excellent work, yet
scientific society did not acknowledge it. There were various reasons why his work was rejected
(Khan Academy).
The principle of non-blending Inheritance was one of the first reasons his work was rejected.
Mendel believed that genes, or factors, do not mix and that the phenotypic of children is
comparable to just one parent.It cannot function as a link between the two parents. However, this
definition of variety could not explain the variances present in creatures in general. Second,
Mendel introduced mathematical computations to characterize biological processes. To present
his conclusions, he employed ratios. At the time, mathematical representations of biological
discoveries were controversial. As a result, his efforts went unnoticed primarily. Finally, while
Mendel claimed that some factors are passed down from generation to generation, he lacked
confirmation for these units. Simplify, there was no actual proof of Mendel's variables. In
conclusion, the existence of discrete units known as FACTORS was considered a possibility.
Furthermore, Mendel had no proof that such units existed. Mendel's genetics were denied for all
these causes, and they lay inactive for several years. However, something positive happened.
We now understand chromosomes and how they appear. Nevertheless, no one knew about it
back then. As a result, the newly discovered structures within the cell drew much interest.
Processes like mitosis and meiosis were also well known due to the study of chromosomal
architecture. At the same time, Mendel's long-ignored famous work began to gain traction as
scientists reexamined the findings. Two scientists from separate regions of the world presented a
few hypotheses simultaneously. These assumptions eventually evolved into a theory. Walter
Sutton, an American geneticist, and physician was one of the two scientists studying
grasshoppers. He discovered that chromosomes exist in pairs and are separated from one another
in the gametes generated during meiosis. He came up with the idea that a chromosome pair
comprises one from the mother and one from the father. As a result, the separation of
chromosomes during meiosis might explain Mendelian inheritance principles. His theory is as
follows. At the same time, a German researcher called Theodor Boveri was studying sea urchins
and discovered that all the chromosomal pairs must be present in the embryo for proper growth.
Both studies were eventually merged, resulting in the Boveri-Sutton hypothesis of heredity. It is
now also known as the "Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance.
The idea, and hence the principles of genetics, may be fully articulated with only three points or
observations! With the first point, chromosomes occur in pairs. These are now known as
homologous pairs. One chromosome is provided by the mother, while the father provides the
other. Isn't this how Mendel thought about genes? He stated that "factors," or genes as they are
now called, exist in pairs. One ingredient is provided by the mother, while the father provides the
other. According to the next point, chromosomes from a single pair split during meiosis. One
chromosome will be passed from one gamete to the next in this way. The simplest basic
explanation of Mendel's segregation law is as follows. In his law, Mendel emphasized dividing
components, or alleles, into gametes. According to the theory's last observation, different
chromosomes assort into gametes independently of one another during meiosis. Even Mendel
recognized this in his law of independent assortment. Alleles of different genes assort
independently of one another during gamete formation. The Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance
explains why genes are found on chromosomes in this manner. They are also the units of
Inheritance. This is how the notion, which was beneficial in establishing Mendel's genetic laws,
was used to support Mendel's work.

References:
Khan Academy. Chromosomes theory of Inheritance. Retrieved From:
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/in-in-class-12-biology-india/xc09ed98f7a9e671b:in-in-
principles-of-inheritance-and-variation/xc09ed98f7a9e671b:chromosomal-theory-of-
inheritance/e/chromosome-theory-of-inheritance
Lumen. Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance. Retrieved From:
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/sanjacinto-biology1/chapter/chromosomal-theory-of-
inheritance-and-genetic-linkage/#:~:text=Section%20Summary,assortment%2C%20and
%20occasionally%2C%20linkage.