Genetics

ICSE Class 10 Biology · Selina Concise Biology · 45 solved questions

Exercise
Marks
1Progress Check 1

Mention if the following statements are True or False:

(i) Genetics and heredity are the same thing.

(ii) "Like begets like", this applies only to animals.

(iii) The entire human population shows variations.

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(i) False
Corrected statement — Genetics and heredity are related but not the same thing. (Heredity means the transmission of genetically based characteristics from parents to offspring whereas Genetics is the study of heredity.)

(ii) False
Corrected statement — "Like begets like", this applies to all organisms.

(iii) True

2Progress Check 1

Which of the following in humans are established genetic traits ? (Tick-mark the correct ones) in the box provided.

(i) Capacity to be a good cricketer

(ii) Curly hair

(iii) Left-handedness

(iv) Quality of voice

(v) Red-green colour blindness

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Following are the established genetic traits in humans:

  • Curly hair
  • Left-handedness
  • Red-green colour blindness
1Progress Check 2

Mention the following:

(i) Total number of pairs of chromosomes in each body cell in humans ............... .

(ii) Number of pairs of autosomes in one cell of humans ............... .

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(i) 23

(ii) 22

2Progress Check 2

A certain couple got only four daughters in a row and no son. Does it mean that the husband does not produce Y-bearing sperms? Explain.

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No, it does not mean that the husband does not produce Y-bearing sperms. During conception, half of the sperm released are X-bearing and the other half are Y-bearing. In this case, only the X-bearing sperm fertilized the wife's eggs in each instance. This can happen due to random chance, as the probability of having a male or female child is approximately 50% for each pregnancy.

1Progress Check 3

Write the basic unit of heredity ?

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Gene is the basic unt of heredity.

2Progress Check 3

Define the following terms :-

(i) Allele

(ii) Dominant gene

(iii) Genotype

(iv) Phenotype

(v) Recessive gene

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(i) Alternative forms of a gene, occupying the same position on homologous chromosomes and depicting different forms of the same character are called alleles.

(ii) The gene which can super-rule or mask the effect of its allele is called Dominant gene.

(iii) The set of genes present in the cells of an organism is called its genotype.

(iv) The observable characteristics which are genetically controlled are called as phenotype.

(v) The form of allele which remains submissive in presence of dominant form and expresses only in homozygous condition is called recessive gene.

3Progress Check 3

Mention the number of paired homozygous chromosomes in

(i) Human female

(ii) Human male

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(i) 23

(ii) 22

Reason — The term used in the above question should be "homologous". All the 23 pairs of chromosomes in female are homologous while in male only 22 pairs are homologous because one pair (sex chromosomes-XY) is different in size and gene sequence.

4Progress Check 3

Can there be a heterozygous recessive? Explain.

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No, there can never be a heterozygous recessive. In case of a heterozygous condition, there is one dominant gene and one recessive gene. The character of dominant gene will be expressed as it will mask the expression of recessive gene. Therefore, the recessive gene will always express in homozygous condition and there cannot be a heterozygous recessive.

5Progress Check 3

List any four characters along with their traits in humans which you can easily study just by observing and making family charts.

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Eye colour (Brown/Blue), Hand (Left/Right Handedness), Earlobe (Free/Attached) and Cheeks (Dimpled/Normal).

1Progress Check 4

Who discovered for the first time the basic principles of genetics?

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Gregor John Mendel

2Progress Check 4

Give the common and scientific names of the organism on which Gregor Mendel had worked.

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Common name — Garden pea
Scientific name — Pisum sativum

3Progress Check 4

Distinguish between the following pairs:

(i) Monohybrid and Dihybrid cross

(ii) Genotype and Phenotype

(iii) Character and Trait

(iv) Dominant and Recessive Allele

(v) Autosomes and Sex chromosomes

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(i) Difference between Monohybrid and Dihybrid cross:

Monohybrid CrossDihybrid cross
Single feature is taken into considerationTwo features are taken into consideration.
Phenotypic ratio in second generation is 3:1Phenotypic ratio in second generation is 9:3:3:1
Genotypic ratio is 1:2:1Genotypic ratio obtained is very complex

(ii) Difference between Genotype and Phenotype:

GenotypePhenotype
Set of genes present in any organism is known as its genotype.Characters expressed or physical appearance of characters is called phenotype.
Can be determined by genotyping method.Can be determined by observation.
It is formed by expressed and unexpressed genes.It consists of only expressed genes.

(iii) Difference between Character and Trait:

CharacterTrait
Any inheritable feature of an organism is a character.The alternative forms of a character are called traits.
For example, flower colour is a character.For example, within the character of flower colour, specific traits will be red, blue, or white flower colour.

(iv) Difference between Dominant and Recessive Allele:

Dominant AlleleRecessive Allele
The gene that expresses itself phenotypically.The gene that remains unexpressed in presence of dominant allele.
Expresses in homozygous as well as heterozygous condition.Expresses only in homozygous condition.
Represented by capital letters.Represented by small letters.

(v) Difference between Autosomes and Sex chromosomes:

AutosomesSex chromosomes
Autosomes are chromosomes that determine the general body features.Sex chromosomes determine the sex of an organism.
Humans have 22 pairs of autosomes.Humans have 1 pair sex chromosomes.
4Progress Check 4

Write two characters of pea pod with their alternative traits.

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Two characters of pea pod with their alternative traits are :

S.
No.
CharacterAlternative trait
1.Pod colourGreen and Yellow
2.Pod shapeInflated and Constricted
11 Mark · Multiple Choice Type

Which one of the following is the phenotypic monohybrid ratio in F2 generation?

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3 : 1

Reason — The phenotypic monohybrid ratio in F2 generation is 3:1 because 3 of the offsprings have dominant allele and one is homozygous recessive.

21 Mark · Multiple Choice Type

If a pure tall plant is crossed with a pure dwarf plant, then offspring will be

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all tall

Reason — Tallness is a dominant character which will be expressed in heterozygous condition.

31 Mark · Multiple Choice Type

The 9 : 3 : 3 : 1 dihybrid ratio is due to

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independent assortment

Reason — The 9 : 3 : 3 : 1 dihybrid ratio is due to independent assortment as the allele of one character is independent of other.

41 Mark · Multiple Choice Type

A plant with green pods and smooth seeds with genotype Ggss will give rise to the following gametes:

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Gs and gs

Reason — Only two types of gametes are possible i.e. Gs and gs, as gene 's' is in homozygous condition. This is in accordance to the law of independent assortment.

A plant with green pods and smooth seeds with genotype Ggss will give rise to. Genetics, Concise Biology Solutions ICSE Class 10.
51 Mark · Multiple Choice Type

The disease colour blindness is a :

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Recessive X-linked disease

Reason — The disease colour blindness is due to recessive gene that occurs on the X-chromosome.

61 Mark · Multiple Choice Type

The physical expression of a character is called :

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Phenotype

Reason — Phenotype are the observable characteristics that are genetically controlled.

71 Mark · Multiple Choice Type

Purity of gametes is linked to :

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Law of segregation

Reason — Two alleles of a character are independent and separate during formation of gametes. They do not mix with each other or lose their identity.

81 Mark · Multiple Choice Type

The phenotypic dihybrid ratio of F2 generation is

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9:3:3:1

Reason — The phenotypic dihybrid ratio of F2 generation is 9:3:3:1 due to the law of independent assortment.

91 Mark · Multiple Choice Type

In the human male, a sperm contains autosomes and :

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X or Y chromosome

Reason — In the human male, a sperm contains autosomes and either an X chromosome or a Y chromosome.

101 Mark · Multiple Choice Type

If the mother is normal and the father is haemophilic, then their two daughters will be :

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Carrier

Reason — Since mother is normal, one of the X chromosome in daughters will be normal. Hence they will be carrier due to X chromosome received from father.

111 Mark · Multiple Choice Type

The character of tongue rolling was observed in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Sharma who have two children, one son Rajesh and one daughter Radhika. Rajesh is a tongue roller whereas Radhika is a non-roller. Both the parents have the same genotype and phenotype. Which of the following options is correct for both Mr. and Mrs. Sharma ?

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Heterozygous tongue rollers

Reason —

 Heterozygous tongue roller father (Rr)
 Rr
Heterozygous tongue roller mother
(R)
RR
Homozygous tongue roller
Rr
Heterozygous tongue roller
Heterozygous tongue roller mother
(r)
Rr
Heterozygous tongue roller
rr
Non-tongue roller
12Assertion Reason type

Assertion (A): Heredity is the basic fundamental unit of Genetics.

Reason (R): Genes carry hereditary information from the offsprings to their parents.

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A is True and R is False.

Explanation
Genes do not carry hereditary information from offspring to parents. Instead, genes are the carriers of hereditary information from parents to offspring.

13Assertion Reason type

Assertion (A): Karyotype is the division of nucleus during cell-division.

Reason (R): Karyon means nucleus and type explains the number, shape and size of the chromosome.

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A is False and R is True.

Explanation
Karyokinesis is the division of nucleus during cell-division. Karyotype is a picture showing all chromosome pairs arranged according to their size and shape.

14Assertion Reason type

Assertion (A): Dominant alleles can express themselves only in homozygous condition.

Reason (R): Dominant alleles support recessive alleles and allow them to express, even in heterozygous condition.

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Both A and R are False.

Explanation
Dominant alleles can express themselves in homozygous as well as in heterozygous condition. Dominant alleles suppress recessive alleles and do not allow them to express in heterozygous condition.

15Assertion Reason type

Assertion (A): Genotype is the genetic make up of a cell.

Reason (R): Phenotype is the set of genes present in the cells of an organism that expresses internal characters.

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A is True and R is False.

Explanation
The phenotype refers to the observable characteristics or traits of an organism.

16Assertion Reason type

Assertion (A): A daughter can resemble only her mother and not her father.

Reason (R): Sex chromosomes of the daughter (XX) are received from both the parents.

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A is False and R is True.

Explanation
A daughter can resemble her mother as well as her father because she receives genes from both the parents.

1Very Short Answer Type

Match the terms in column I with their the explanations in column II.

Column I
(Term)
Column II
(Explanation)
a. Genetics(i) Chromosomes similar in size and shape
b. Autosomes(ii) The alternative forms of a gene
c. Recessive gene(iii) Study of laws of inheritance of characters
d. Allele(iv) A gene that can express only when in a similar pair
e. Homologous chromosomes(v) Chromosomes other than the pair of sex chromosomes
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Column I
(Term)
Column II
(Explanation)
a. Genetics(iii) Study of laws of inheritance of characters
b. Autosomes(v) Chromosomes other than the pair of sex chromosomes
c. Recessive gene(iv) A gene that can express only when in a similar pair
d. Allele(ii) The alternative forms of a gene
e. Homologous chromosomes(i) Chromosomes similar in size and shape
2Very Short Answer Type

Name any two genetic diseases in humans.

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Colour blindness and Haemophilia are two genetic diseases in humans.

3Very Short Answer Type

Which one of the following genotypes is homozygous dominant and which one homozygous recessive in regard to tongue rolling:
Rr, rr, RR?

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Homozygous recessive – rr
Homozygous dominant - RR

1Short Answer Type

Rewrite the correct form of the statement by changing the first or the last word only:

(a) Duplicated chromosomes remain attached at a point termed as centrosome.

(b) The full complement of DNA of an organism is termed as genetics.

(c) The inheritable feature of an organism is termed as heredity.

(d) Terminal flower position is a dominant trait of pea flower.

(e) Alternative forms of a gene are called traits.

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(a) Duplicated chromosomes remain attached at a point termed as centromere.

(b) The full complement of DNA of an organism is termed as Genome.

(c) The inheritable feature of an organism is termed as character.

(d) Axillary flower position is a dominant trait of pea flower.

(e) Alternative forms of a gene are called Allele.

2Short Answer Type

Among lion, tiger and domestic cat, all the three have the same number of 38 chromosomes, yet they have different appearances. How do you account for such differences?

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All species have a fixed number of chromosomes. However, the characteristics of species including physical appearance, body functions, behavior, etc. are not simply the outcome of chromosome number, but these are the result of the units called genes which the chromosomes carry. The lion and the cat have the same number of chromosomes (38). Yet one is distinct from the other in body size, appearance, colour, behavior, etc. All such characteristics of an organism are the result of the genes located on the chromosomes.

3Short Answer Type

List any three features of garden pea with their dominant and recessive traits.

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CharacterDominant traitRecessive trait
Flower ColourPurpleWhite
Seed ColourYellowGreen
Seed ShapeRoundWrinkled
Pod ShapeInflatedConstricted
Flower PositionAxialTerminal
4Short Answer Type

Explain why generally only the male child suffers from colour blindness and not the female?

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Colour blindness is caused due to recessive genes, which occur on the ‘x’ chromosomes. Males have only one X chromosome. If there is recessive gene present on X chromosome, then the male will suffer from colour-blindness. Females have two X chromosomes. It is highly impossible that both the X chromosomes carry abnormal gene. Hence, if one gene is abnormal and since it is recessive, its expression will be masked by the normal gene present on the other X chromosome. Due to this reason, females are unlikely to suffer from colour-blindness.

1Descriptive Type

Define the following terms:

(a) Pedigree chart

(b) Variations

(c) Mutation

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(a) Pedigree chart — A pedigree chart is a diagram that shows the occurrence and appearance or phenotypes of a particular gene or organism and its ancestors from one generation to the next. In the pedigree chart, males are shown by squares and females by circles.

(b) Variations — The small differences among the individuals of the same species are called variations.

(c) Mutation — Mutation is a sudden change in one or more genes, or in the number or in the structure of chromosomes. Mutation alters the hereditary material of an organism's cells and results in a change in certain characters or traits for example :

  1. Sickle cell anaemia
  2. Radioactive radiations
2Descriptive Type

Does the sex of the child depend on the father or is it just a matter of chance? Discuss.

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The sex of the child depends upon the kind of sperm that fertilises the egg. The egg contains only one X chromosome, but half of the sperms released into the genital tract of the female during coitus are X-bearing and the remaining half are Y-bearing. It is simply a matter of chance as to which category of sperm fuses with the ovum:

  • If the egg (X) is fused by X-bearing sperm, the resulting combination is XX i.e. female constitution and the child produced is a female (Daughter).
  • If the egg (X) is fused by Y-bearing sperm, the resulting combination is XY i.e. male constitution and the child produced is a male (Son).
Does the sex of the child depend on the father or is it just a matter of chance? Discuss. Genetics, Concise Biology Solutions ICSE Class 10.
3Descriptive Type

Distinguish between the following pairs:

(a) Karyotype and Karyokinesis

(b) Autosomes and Sex chromosomes

(c) Homozygous and Heterozygous chromosomes

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(a) Difference between karyotype and karyokinesis —

KaryotypeKaryokinesis
The complete set of chromosomes in the cells of an organism is its karyotype.The division of the nucleus during mitosis is called karyokinesis.

(b) Difference between autosomes and sex chromosomes

AutosomesSex chromosomes
They determine the somatic traits.They determine the sex of an organism.
They are numbered as 1 to 22.They are recognized by the letters XO, XY, ZO, ZW.
They show Mendelian inheritance.They do not show Mendelian inheritance.
Human show 22 pairs of autosomes.Humans show only 1 pair of sex chromosome.

(c) Difference between homozygous and heterozygous chromosomes

Homozygous chromosomesHeterozygous chromosomes
It has two same copies of the same allele coding for a particular trait.It contains two different copies of alleles coding for a particular trait.
1Structured / Application / Skill Type

In a certain species of animals, black fur (B) is dominant over brown fur (b). Predict the genotype and phenotype of the offspring, when both parents are 'Bb' or have heterozygous black fur.

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In a certain species of animals, black fur (B) is dominant over brown fur (b). Predict the genotype and phenotype of the offspring, when both parents are 'Bb' or have heterozygous black fur. Genetics, Concise Biology Solutions ICSE Class 10.
Bb
BBBBb
bBbbb

In the question it is given that B refers to black fur and b refers to brown fur. So the genotype and phenotype of the offspring will be:

Genotype — 1 (Homozygous Black Fur) : 2 (Heterozygous Black Fur) : 1 (Homozygous Brown Fur)

Phenotype — 3 (Black Fur): 1 (Brown Fur)

2Structured / Application / Skill Type

Two pairs (A and B) of rabbits were crossed as given below:

Two pairs (A and B) of rabbits were crossed as given below. Can you tell which coat colour (black or white) is dominant? Is the coat colour sex-linked? Genetics, Concise Biology Solutions ICSE Class 10.

(a) Can you tell which coat colour (black or white) is dominant?

(b) Is the coat colour sex-linked?

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(a) Black

(b) No

3Structured / Application / Skill Type

Make a Punnett square and find out the genotypic and phenotypic ratios of F2 generations in the progeny of a genetic cross between:

(a) A pure tall (TT) pea plant with a pure dwarf (tt) pea plant.

(b) Red flower variety of pea (RR) with white flower variety of pea (rr).

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(a) A pure tall (TT) pea plant with a pure dwarf (tt) pea plant:

Make a Punnett square and find out the genotypic and phenotypic ratios of F1 and F2 generations in the progeny of a genetic cross between A pure tall (TT) pea plant with a pure dwarf (tt) pea plant. Genetics, Concise Biology Solutions ICSE Class 10.

F2 Generation:

GametesTt
TTTTt
tTttt

Genotype - 1 (Homozygous tall) : 2 (Heterozygous tall) : 1 (Homozygous dwarf)

Phenotype - 3 (Tall) : 1 (Dwarf)

(b) Red flower variety of pea (RR) with white flower variety of pea (rr):

Make a Punnett square and find out the genotypic and phenotypic ratios of F1 and F2 generations in the progeny of a genetic cross between Red flower variety of pea (RR) with white flower variety of pea (rr). Genetics, Concise Biology Solutions ICSE Class 10.

F2 Generation:

GametesRr
RRRRr
rRrrr

Genotype — 1 (Homozygous red) : 2 (Heterozygous red) : 1 (Homozygous white)

Phenotype — 3 (Red) : 1 (White)

4Structured / Application / Skill Type

Mendel crossed a homozygous pea plant having round seeds (RR) with a homozygous pea plant having wrinkled seeds (rr). He got different results. On the basis of it, answer the following questions:

Mendel crossed a homozygous pea plant having round seeds (RR) with a homozygous pea plant having wrinkled seeds (rr). Which character of seed is studied in the experiment? Genetics, Concise Biology Solutions ICSE Class 10.

(a) Which character of seed is studied in the experiment?

(b) Which of the above two traits is dominant ?

(c) Write the phenotype and genotype of F1 offspring.

(d) Mention and state the Mendel’s law shown in the above cross.

(e) Make a Punnett square for F2 generation when two plants of F1 offspring are crossed with each other.

(f) Write the phenotypic ratio of F2 progeny.

(g) What will be the genotypic ratio of F2 offsprings ?

(h) What are the two traits of seed colour ? Also mention which is dominant and recessive ?

(i) Write the scientific name of garden pea.

(j) Write two main features of pea plant due to which Mendel had selected it for his hybridisation studies.

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(a) Shape of seed

(b) Round seed shape is dominant.

(c) Phenotype — Round seed
Genotype — Rr

(d) Law of dominance, which states that out of a pair of contrasting characters present together, only one is able to express itself while the other remains suppressed.

(e)

GameteRr
RRRRr
rRrrr

(f) Phenotypic ratio — 3:1

(g) Genotypic ratio — 1:2:1

(h) The two traits of seed colour are:

  1. Yellow (dominant)
  2. Green (recessive)

(i) Pisum sativum

(j) The two main features due to which Mendel selected pea plants are :

  1. Many varieties were available in alternative forms of a character.
  2. The life span of pea plants is short and many generations can be obtained and studied in less time.
5Structured / Application / Skill Type

A homozygous plant having round (R) and yellow (Y) seed is crossed with another homozygous plant having wrinkled (r) and green (y) seeds. Answer the following questions :

(a) Give the genotype of the F1 generation.

(b) Mention the phenotype of the F1 offsprings.

(c) Give the possible combinations of gametes that can be obtained from F1 hybrids.

(d) Give the dihybrid phenotypic ratio and the phenotype of the offsprings of the F2 generation when two plants of F1 generation are crossed.

(e) Name and state the law which explains the dihybrid phenotypic ratio.

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(a) Genotype : RrYy

(b) All Round and yellow seeds

(c) RY, Ry, rY, ry

(d) 9:3:3:1

(e) Law of Independent Assortment, which states that the distribution of the alleles of one character into the gametes is independent of the distribution of the alleles of the other character.

1Case Study

Rohan, a colour blind man is married to Aashima, a carrier woman with normal vision. Colour blindness is a genetic disorder in which people are not able to distinguish between red and green colours. Rohan and Aashima are scared about the possibilities of the transmission of this disorder in their children.

(i) The defective gene of colour blindness is located on the X-chromosome which can be found in both- male and female sex chromosomes. Which of the following statements is/are incorrect ?

  1. Colour blindness is a recessive sex-linked disorder.
  2. It is caused by a dominant allele, located on all sex chromosomes, when a person is colourblind.
  3. It is more common in females.
  4. Both (2) and (3)

(ii) Aashima delivered a baby girl via her first pregnancy. Which of the following features are not possible in her daughter ?

  1. The daughter may be colourblind.
  2. The daughter may be carrier with normal vision.
  3. The daughter has a normal vision without the defective gene on the chromosomes.
  4. Both (1) and (2)

(iii) After three years, Aashima conceived and delivered a baby boy. The couple was very happy because they heard that the disorder is X-linked and would not pass down to their son. Choose the correct option from the following statements :

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(i) Both (2) and (3)

Reason — Colour blindness is caused by a recessive allele. The gene is present only on the X-chromosome, not on all sex chromosomes. It is more common in males because males have only one X-chromosome.

(ii) The daughter has a normal vision without the defective gene on the chromosomes.

 Colour-blind father (X°Y)
 X°Y
Carrier mother
(X°X)
X°X°
Colour-blind daughter
X°Y
Colour-blind son
Carrier mother
(X)
XX°
Carrier daughter
XY
Normal son

(iii) Their son may be colour blind, if he receives the X-chromosome with the defective gene from his mother.

 Colour-blind father (X°Y)
 X°Y
Carrier mother
(X°X)
X°X°
Colour-blind daughter
X°Y
Colour-blind son
Carrier mother
(X)
XX°
Carrier daughter
XY
Normal son

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