INHERITANCE BIOLOGY

INHERITANCE
• Inheritance is the transmission of genetic information from one generation
to another, leading to continuity of the species and variation within it.

• Eg. Children share similarities with parents because of the transmission of

genes – genetic material from the parents to the children.

• Inheritance is regulated by chromosome. So let’s learn about

chromosomes.
CHROMOSOMES
• In nucleus of every cell, there are many long threads – chromosomes.
• Most of the time, they are too thin to be seen with an electron microscope.
• But during cell division, they get shorter and fatter, then the can be seen with
a light microscope.
• Chromosomes are a packaged form of DNA. DNA normally exists in
condensed form in nucleus; but condenses into chromosomes during cell
replication.
 • Genes – A part of DNA
responsible for a particular
feature/protein

• Protein – Polypeptide chain i.e many AA join

together to form protein.
The type of protein to be produced depends on
the sequence of AA – which is controlled by
 HUMAN
CHROMOSOME
•SHuman cells have 46 chromosomes
(diploid) , in pairs.
• Sex cells (sperms & ova) have 23
chromosomes.
• The 23rd chromosome i.e the sex
chromosome – X and Y vary from
others in case of size.
• The sex chromosome determine
the sex of the individual.
• Males have XY
Females have XX
DNA (DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC
ACID)
• Often called “blueprint of life”
• Contains instructions for making proteins
within the cell
• Double-helix model
• DNA is a polynucleotide chain.
• Each nucleotide has 3 parts
(1) Phosphate group
(2) Sugar molecule (Pentose –
Deoxyribose)
(3) Nitrogenous base (Adenine, Thymine,
Cytosine, Guanine)
1. HYDROGEN BONDS
• Each strand of the double helix is joined by
hydrogen bonds (weak bonds).
• Adenine (A) forms bonds with Thymine (T) –
DOUBLE BOND
• Cytosine (C) forms bonds with Guanine – TRIPLE
BOND
• Hence, we can say adenine and thymine are
complementary bases. So are cytosine and guanine.
• This is known as Base-pairing rule or Chargaff’s
rule.
• NOTE : As a result of base-pairing rule,
No. of adenine = No. of thymine
No. of cytosine = No. of guanine
2. PHOSPHODIESTER BONDS
• In a single helix, one nucleotide is connected to the other nucleotide by
phosphodiester bond.
NITROGENOUS BASES
Can be divided into two – Purine (two rings) and Pyrimidine (single ring).
Rings each contain carbon and nitrogen atoms.
 AFTER CELL DIVISION, CHROMOSOME
NUMBER REMAINS UNCHANGED.

DURING DIVISION, SEX CELL (SPERM AND

OVA) HAS 23 CHROMOSOMES.
SPERM AND OVA UNDERGO
FERTILIZATION AND FORM 46
CHROMOSOMES AGAIN.
CHANGES IN CHROMOSOME NUMBER CAN
LEAD TO MUTATIONS.
EXTRA CHROMOSOME – 47 CHROMOSOMES
EG. DOWN SYNDROME
DURING CELL DIVISION, CHROMOSOME
NUMBER BECOMES DOUBLE.

46 DUPLICATE AND BECOMES 92

AFTER DIVISION, 46 CHROMOSOMES ARE
THERE IN EACH CELL AGAIN
DNA REPLICATION
BREAKING OF H-BONDS
The Hydrogen bonds must be broken first.
This is done by the enzyme – HELICASE.
It breaks the hydrogen bonds between the nitrogenous bases of the nucleotides.
 FORMATION OF NEW STRAND
This is done by the enzyme – DNA polymerase.
It synthesizes the nucleotide bases complementary to the nucleotides in helix.
Thus, two identical DNA molecules will be formed.
 HOW DNA REPLICATES
ITSELF?
1. The polynucleotide strands of DNA are separated by DNA helicase.
2. Each strand acts as a template for the formation of a new strand of DNA.
3. DNA polymerase assembles nucleotides into two new strands according to base-
pairing rule.
4. Two identical DNA molecules are formed – each has a strand from the parent
DNA and a new complementary DNA.
SEMI-CONSERVATIVE MODEL
Among the two strands, one strand has been directly received by the
parent whereas the other strand was synthesized by DNA polymerase.
 HENCE, EACH CHROMOSOME
DIVIDES/DUPLICATES.
NO. OF CHROMOSOMES DOUBLE
EACH CELL THEN RECEIVES EACH
HALF
NO. OF CHROMOSOMES RESTORED OR
REMAINS UNCHANGED
GENE AND ALLELES
GENE – A PART OF DNA CODING
FOR ONE PROTEIN
• Each chromosome is made of many genes.
• Each gene codes for the formation of a different protein which gives us our
characteristics.
• The gene responsible for a particular characteristic is always on the same position
on the chromosome (loci).
ALLELE
• When the chromosome are in pairs, there may be a different form (allele) of the
gene on each chromosome.
• Genes of same type can have different forms. The different forms of the gene are
called alleles.
GENES VS ALLELES
HOMOLOGOUS
CHROMOSOMES
• Carry genes of same features in same sequence
• But alleles are different/not same
• Hence, DNA in the two chromosomes is not identical.
THEN HOW IS
A
CHARACTERI
STIC
EXPRESSED?!
 DOMINANT ALLELE VS
RECESSIVE ALLELE
Dominant allele – A gene which can express its feature at any condition – whether
organism is heterozygous (Tt) or homozygous (TT).
Recessive allele – A gene which expresses its feature only under some conditions –
when organism is homozygous tt.
SUMMARY
• Each parents gives one of the pair of
chromosome to the gametes.
• Each chromosome pair will have the same
genes.
• But the alleles in the genes are different.

• Interestingly, there is Co-dominant allele.

• This allele affects the characteristic
(phenotype) equally.
 Free earlobes (F) is dominant over
Attached earlobes (f)

Ff or fF

FF or ff
SOME DEFINITIONS
 HAPLOID VS DIPLOID
Diploid – Di (two) + ploidy
(chromosomes)
•Nucleus contains pairs of chromosomes
•Each chromosome comes from each
parent
•Eg. In Somatic Cells of humans, the
diploid number is 46.
Haploid – Hap (one) + ploidy
(chromosomes)
•Formed after meiosis.
•Nucleus contains single set of chromosomes.
•Found in sex cells or gametes – sperm and
ovum. In humans, the haploid number is 23.
 GENOTYPE VS PHENOTYPE
Genotype – Genetic make-up of an Phenotype – Characteristics visible in
organism. an organism, controlled by the genotype.
E.g. Tt, where T and t are alleles of a gene Eg. Tt – Tall plant. Tt – Dwarf plant
 CROSS BETWEEN
HOMOZYGOUS
TALL PLANT AND DWARF
PLANT
 CROSS BETWEEN
HETEROZYGOUS
TALL PLANT AND DWARF
PLANT
Show a cross between
Heterozygous pea
plants –
Tt x Tt
tall
 Riddle me this!
Neither of a pair of alleles is completely
dominant or completely recessive.
Instead, they hide each others effect and
both have an effect on the phenotype.
What is it called?

Co-dominance
EXAMPLES
Imagine – A flower has two alleles for
flower color. Allele Cw produces white
color whereas allele CR produces red
color. If both alleles show co-dominance,
the genotypes and phenotypes are:

Genotype Phenotype
CwCw White flowers
CwCR Pink flowers
CRCR Red flowers
INHERITANCE OF A,B,AB,O
BLOOD GROUP
• In human, 4 blood types (phenotypes) are
there – A, B, AB and O
• Blood type is controlled by 3 alleles –
IA, IB, IO
• Where I stands for Immunoglobulin
• IO is recessive. If two IO are there, the
blood type is O.
• IA and IB are codominant.
• IA and IB are dominant to IO
• If a person has both alleles - IA and IB ,
then the blood type is AB.
PEDIGREE
PEDIGREE
Family trees that show which individuals in the family can get certain diseases or
have certain traits.
Pedigree charts show a record of the family of an individual.

SYMBOLS IN PEDIGREE
CHARTS