HEREDITY AND

EVOLUTION
MENDEL’S LAWS
Dihybrid cross
•When two characters are considered while crossing two
organisms, then such a cross is known as a dihybrid cross.
•The ratio of characters, arising out of this cross, at F2
generation is called dihybrid ratio.
•E.g., If a plant with round and green pea is crossed with a plant
with wrinkled and yellow pea,
•The first generation plants would all have round and green pea.
•On crossing the same for an F2 generation, we would observe
four combinations of characters in the ratio of 9:3:3:1.
•Thus, 9:3:3:1 is the dihybrid ratio.
How traits are transferred from parents to offspring’s?
The nucleus of a cell contains chromosomes that carry genetic
information. Chromosomes are made from long, coiled
molecules of DNA. DNA contains genes and they are units of
heredity and are responsible for inheritance. Genes control the
expression of characteristics. Different genes are responsible for
different traits. In other words, a gene carries the genetic code for
a particular characteristic. For example, height of an organism,
complexion, and shape of nose are all controlled by different
genes.
Characters are transferred through genes present in the DNA
molecules in the chromosomes present in the nucleus of the
cell.
•GENOTYPE = the genes present in the DNA of an organism. We will
use a pair of letters to represent genotypes for one particular trait.
Genotypes are inherited. For ex: Tt tall or tt for short etc.) There are
always two letters in the genotype because (as a result of sexual
reproduction) one code for the trait comes from male and the other comes
from female, so every offspring gets two codes (two letters).
Therefore, there will be three possible genotypes. For example- for the
trait height of an organism, the genotypes will be TT, Tt or tt.
•Phenotype- Property shown in the organism. The observable character
in an organism. Examples of phenotypes in humans- Blonde hair, grey
eyes, attached earlobes etc.
Mendel's Second Law:
Law of Independent Assortment: Alleles of
different characters separate independent
from each other during gamete formation.
In the above example; alleles of texture
were assorted independently from those of
seed colour.
Sex determination
•The process of determining the sex of an individual based on the
composition of the genetic material is called sex determination.
•In different animals, sex of an embryo is determined by different
factors.
•In humans, sex determination happens on the basis of the presence or
absence of Y chromosome.
•XX is female and XY is male
•An ovum always contains X chromosome.
•An Ovum, upon fusion with Y containing sperm, gives rise to a male
child and upon fusion with X containing sperm gives rise to a girl child.