Heredity

Class 10 Science

Reproductive processes give rise to new individuals that are similar, but subtly different. Some amount of variation is produced even during asexual reproduction. The number of successful variations are maximised by the process of sexual reproduction.

Inheritance from the previous generation provides both a common basic body design, and subtle changes in it, for the next generation. The second generation will have differences that they inherit from the first generation, as well as newly created differences.

The rules of heredity determine the process by which traits and characteristics are reliably inherited.

Inherited Traits

A child bears all the basic features of a human being. However, it does not look exactly like its parents, and human populations show a great deal of variation.

The rules for inheritance of such traits in human beings are related to the fact that both the father and the mother contribute practically equal amounts of genetic material to the child. This means that each trait can be influenced by both paternal and maternal DNA. Thus, for each trait there will be two versions in each child.

Mendel worked out the main rules of such inheritance.