Heredity and Evolution

Heredity The transfer of traits from one generation to next

generation is referred to as heredity.
Genetics The branch of biology which deals with the study of
genes of organisms.
The term genetics was given by William Bateson in 1905.
The term gene was given by Johannsen.
Variation The changes that can be noted in the offspring due to
any factor or error during DNA replication are known as Variation.
In simple words, the occurrence of any dissimilarity between the
parent(s) and offspring is referred to as variation.
Character or Traits Character or Traits are the resultant action
of a gene displayed by the organism.
Types of variations:1) Somatic Variation - The variations which occur due to
environmental factors are known as somatic variations.
2) Germinal Variation The variations which occur due to error in
DNA replication are known as germinal variations.
Siblings The organisms which have a common parent.
Father of Genetics Gregor Johann Mendel
Mendel selected garden pea plant for his garden experiment
because:The pea plant existed with a variety of characteristics to study.
The pea plant is biennial.
It was easy to have cross fertilization in case of pea plants.

Emasculation The process of removal of anther is called

emasculation.
Factor factor is same as gene which is the basic physical and
functional unit of heredity.
Alleles A group of different or same characters existing as paired
factor for cross.
Homozygous The alleles which have only a couple of contrasting
characters for the cross.
Heterozygous The alleles which have more than a couple
of contrasting characters for the cross.
Dominant alleles The alleles which show their result in the
presence of another allele and are dominant over it.
Recessive alleles Those alleles which are not able to show their
result in the organism due to the action of dominant allele.
Genotype The character or traits classified on the basis of the
genome of the cross b/w two individuals
Phenotype The characteristics related to physical appearance due
to the act of genes.
Monohybrid Cross The cross in which only a single pair of
contrasting characteristics is taken.
Dihybrid cross the cross in which only two pair of contrasting
characters are taken.
Trait A distinguishing feature of an organism which is the
resultant of its genome.
Test cross The cross between two different parents of unknown
genotype.
Allopatric speciation The speciation that occurs due to
geographical isolation.

Law of segregation During the cross each character from the

allele gets separated and each individual is received by a gene.
This is known as Law of Segregation.
Gene The structural and functional unit of heredity is called gene.
It is the segment of DNA which composes the genome of the
organism.
Chromosome The filarial thread like structure present in the
nucleus of a cell is called chromosome. It contains DNA.
Evidence in support of organic evolution is the experiment in which
the atmosphere of ammonia, nitrogen and heat was created with
simple carbon molecules which were further converted in to complex
molecules of their own.
Vestigial organs The functional units of organisms body which are
no longer in use due to habitat changes are

wasteful in bodily

organization are known as vestigial organs.

Evolution The gradual development occurred in an organism which
makes it complex and better.
Species A group of similar organisms which breed together to give
an offspring.
The most common cause of speciation is Geographical isolation.
The factors which contribute towards speciation are geographical
isolation and habitat isolation.
The allosomes are responsible for sex determination in humans.
Paleontology The branch of science dealing with the study of
fossils and remains of dead organisms.
The XY combination of allosomes is responsible for male child in
humans.
Archaeopteryx The connecting link between reptiles and birds.

Charles Darwin gave the theory of natural selection in his book

Origin of Life.
Genotype is the genetic constitution of an organism.
The first humans are supposed to be evolved in Africa.

Pisum sativum is the scientific name for pea plant.

There are two allosomes in a human being.