17 – Inheritance

17.1 – Inheritance
 Inheritance is the transmission of genetic information from generation to generation

17.2 – Chromosomes, Genes and Proteins

 A chromosome is a thread-like structure of DNA, carrying genetic information in the
form of genes
 A gene is a length of DNA that codes for a protein
 An allele is a version of a gene
 A haploid nucleus is a nucleus containing a single set of unpaired chromosomes,
e.g., in gametes (sex cells have n number of chromosomes)
 A diploid nucleus is a nucleus containing two sets of chromosomes, e.g., in body
cells. In a diploid cell, there is a pair of each type of chromosome. In a human diploid
cell, there are 23 such pairs (body cells have 2n number of chromosomes)

How is a protein made?

1. The gene coding for the protein remains in the nucleus
2. mRNA is produced in the nucleus and produces an exact copy of the gene
3. mRNA molecules carry a copy of the gene to the cytoplasm
4. The mRNA passes through ribosomes and is read by the ribosomes
5. The ribosome assembles amino acids into protein molecules
6. The specific order of amino acids is determined by the sequence of bases in the
mRNA

The sequence of bases in a gene is the genetic code for putting together amino acids in the
correct order to make a specific protein. The DNA controls cell functions by controlling
production of proteins, antibodies, and receptors for neurotransmitters.

All body cells contain the same genes (as mitosis produces identical daughter cells), but
many genes are not expressed because the cell only makes the specific protein it needs.

Inheritance of Sex in Humans

The 23rd pair of chromosomes is called the sex
chromosomes, which defines gender:
 Male: XY
 Female: XX
These chromosomes carry genes concerned with
sexual development, such as development of sex
organs and positions of fat stores.

Cells in the reproductive organs divide by mitosis to

form gametes. There is a 50% chance of an X
chromosome in a sperm and a 100% chance of an X
chromosome in an egg cell.
17.3 – Mitosis
 Mitosis is the nuclear division giving rise to genetically identical cells

This type of cell division is used for:

 Growth
 Repair of damaged tissues
 Replacement of cells
 Asexual reproduction (such as binary fission or budding)

Before mitosis, the exact duplication of chromosomes occur. During mitosis, the copies of
chromosomes separate, maintaining the chromosome number. This happens in all the parts
of the body.

The fusion of the male and female gamete is known as fertilization and it forms a zygote.
This will then divide (by mitosis) to form a ball of identical cells called the embryo. The
embryo of an organism consists of stem cells. These unspecialized cells can divide by
mitosis to produce daughter cells that will specialize to form different parts of the organism to
carry out specific functions. This process is known as cell specialization.

17.4 – Meiosis
 Meiosis is the reduction division in which the chromosome number is halved from
diploid to haploid, resulting in genetically different cells

In meiosis, the chromosomes are halved, therefore it is involved in the production of

gametes. It will take place in the sex organs of an organism. This provides genetic variation
as many combinations of maternal and paternal chromosomes form genetically different sex
cells, and therefore an offspring will be unique as 2 of the genetically different sex cells fuse
to form the zygote.

Mitosis Meiosis
2 cells produced 4 cells produced
Diploid daughter cells Haploid daughter cells
Daughter cells are genetically identical to Daughter cells are genetically different from
each other and the parent cell each other and the parent cell
1 cell division occurs 2 cell divisions occur
17.5 – Monohybrid Inheritance
 Genotype is the genetic make-up of an organism in terms of the alleles present
 Phenotype is the observable features of an organism
 Homozygous is having two identical alleles of a particular gene . 2 identical
homozygous individuals that breed together will be pure-breeding
 Heterozygous is having two different alleles of a particular gene . A heterozygous
individual will not be pure-breeding
 Dominant is an allele that is expressed if it is present
 Recessive is an allele that is only expressed when there is no dominant allele of the
gene present

Homologous chromosomes are a matching pair of chromosomes received from both

parents having the same genes arranged in the same order, but could have different alleles.
Therefore, the recipe for a characteristic (such as eye colour) would be the same, but the
feature (black, brown or blue) could be different.

Genetic Diagrams
Punnet squares can be used to show the possible genotypes.
Pedigree Chart

Phenotype
Genotype
Codominance (Blood Group)
Blood grouping has 3 alleles: IA, IB and IO, in which IA IA or IA IO A
IO is recessive to the other 2 and the other 2 aren’t IA IB AB
dominant to each other. IA and IB are codominant. IB IB or IB IO B
IO IO O

Sex Linked Characteristics

 A sex-linked characteristic is a characteristic in which the gene responsible is
located on a sex chromosome and that this makes it more common in one sex than
in the other

Colour blindness is a recessive allele carried on Genotyp

Phenotype
the X chromosome: e
 C: normal allele Males
XCY Not colour blind
 c: colour blindness allele
XcY Colour blind
Males have a higher chance of getting colour Females
blindness as there is a 50% chance of getting it. XCXC Not colour blind
Females have a 33.33% chance of getting it. XCXc Not colour blind (but a carrier)
XcXc Colour blind