Principles of Inheritance and Variation MCQ

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Jasmine Grover

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Inheritance is a phenomenon by which characters and traits are passed on from parent to child. This is the basis of heredity. Genetics is the study of principles and mechanisms of heredity and variation. Gregor Johann Mendel is called the “Father of Genetics”. 

Variation is the degree by which the child differs from their parents. It can be in terms of cytology, morphology, physiology and behavioural traits of individuals who belong to the same species.

Inheritance and Variation

Inheritance and Variation

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MCQs Based on Principles of Inheritance and Variation

Ques 1. Test cross is used to 

  1. Check heterozygous in F1-generation
  2. Check heterozygous in F1-generation
  3. Check independent assortment
  4. Check Segregation

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Ans: (a) check heterozygous in F1-generation

Explanation: Crossing of F1 which having dominant phenotype with the homozygous recessive parent is known as test cross and descendant of test cross is known as test cross progeny. Test cross was devised by Mendel to prove F1 obtained by crossing 2 pure breeding parents is heterozygous or hybrid. If the unknown genotype is homozygous, half of the descendants will show the dominant trait and the other half will show the recessive trait. Therefore, a test cross is used to check heterozygous in F1-generation. 

Ques 2. Incomplete dominance can be shown by

  1. Primrose
  2. Mirabilis
  3. Helianthus
  4. China rose

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Ans: (b) Mirabilis

Explanation: Carl Correns reported the problem of incomplete dominance in Antirrhinum majus and Mirabilis Jalapa. In both these cases, there are two types of flower colours in pure state, which are red and white. When two types of plants are crossed, the hybrid of plants of F1-generation of pink colour flowers. The pink colour appears when we mix red and white colours with incomplete dominance.

Ques 3. Which of the following characteristics represent ‘Inheritance of blood groups in humans?

  1. Dominance
  2. Codominance
  3. Multiple alleles
  4. Incomplete dominance
  5. Polygenic inheritance

a) 1, 4 and 5

b) 1, 2 and 3

c) 2, 3 and 4

d) 1, 3 and 5

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Ans: (b) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation: Dominance, codominance and multiple alleles are the characteristics that represent Inheritance of blood groups in humAns: ABO blood groups are determined by genes. There will be multiple alleles IA, IB and I of this gene. Alleles IA and IB dominate over I. Therefore, when IA and IB alleles are present together, they will show codominance.

Ques 4. Independent assortment means 

  1. Separation of characters of one parent
  2. Non separation of characters of one parent
  3. Combination of parental characters
  4. Separation of parental characters

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Ans: (a) Separation of characters of one parent

Explanation: According to the law of independent assortment, the two factors of each character resort or separate independently of the two factors of other characters at the same time gamut formation. They get randomly re-arranged in the offspring, which produces both parental and the new combination of traits.

Ques 5. Chromosomal theory of inheritance was proposed by

  1. Sutton and Boveri
  2. Bateson and Punnett
  3. TH Morgan
  4. Watson and Crick

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Ans: a) Sutton and Boveri

Explanation: The Chromosomal theory of inheritance was first proposed by Sutton and Boveri. This law states that chromosomes are considered as the vehicle of genetic heredity. Neither the Mendelian genetics nor gene linkage, it is excellently accurate, instead chromosome behaviour which involves segregation, independent assortment and the occasional linkage.

Ques 6. Which of the following will not result in the variation among siblings? 

  1. Independent assortment of genes
  2. Crossing over
  3. Linkage
  4. Mutation

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Ans: c) Linkage

Explanation: The linkage will never result in the variation among siblings. Morgan carried out various dihybrid crosses in Drosophila to study genes that were linked to the sex. Morgan came to know that the genes were located on the X chromosome and also observed that when two genes in a dihybrid cross were situated on the same chromosome, the proportion of parental gene combination was much higher than non-parental type. It will indicate that due to the physical association of the two genes, there will be no variation among siblings.

Ques 7. A pleiotropic gene

  1. Controls a trait only in combination with another gene
  2. Controls multiple sheets in an individual
  3. Is expressed only in primitive plants
  4. Is a gene involved evolved during Pliocene

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Ans: (c) Controls multiple sheets in an individual

Explanation: The ability of a gene to have multiple phenotypic effects because it influences on the number of characters simultaneously is known as pleiotropy. The gene which has multiple phenotypic effects because of its capability to control expression of two or more characters is called pleiotropic gene. In humans, pleiotropy shows syndromes like Sickle cell anaemia and phenylketonuria.

Ques 8. The best example of pleiotropy is

  1. Skin colour
  2. Phenylketonuria
  3. Colour blindness
  4. ABO blood group

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Ans: (b) Phenylketonuria

Explanation: Phenylketonuria is the best example of fluid therapy. In Phenylketonuria, a single gene mutation that codes for enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase can be seen. The manifest itself through phenotypic expression characterised by the mental retardation, reducing hair and skin pigmentation. It is a genetic disorder which is caused by slowing metabolism of amino acids phenylalanine in the cells of the body.

Ques 9. In XX and XY type of sex determination

  1. Males are heterogametic
  2. Females are isogametic
  3. Both (a) and (b)
  4. None of the above options are correct

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Ans: (a) Males are heterogametic

Explanation: In XX-XY types of determination of sex, males are considered as heterogametic. This is because males produce two types of sperms with X and Y. But the females are considered as homogametic, as they produce only single types of ova with X. In moths, ZO-ZZ type of determination of sex occurs where males are homogametic.

Ques 10. A cross between two tall plants resulted in offspring having few dwarf plants. What would be the genotype of both the parents? 

  1. TT & Tt
  2. Tt & Tt
  3. TT & TT
  4. Tt & tt

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Ans: (b) Tt & Tt

Explanation: If we tend to make a cross between two tall plants which results in a few dwarf offspring, then the parental genotypes are Tt and Tt. This can be explained with the help of the following example:

The F1 plants of genotype, Tt are self-pollinated.

Phenotypic ratio: Tall: Dwarf if 3:1 

Genotypic ratio: Pure tall: Hybrid tall: Pure dwarf will be 1:2:1

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CBSE CLASS XII Related Questions

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    Assertion (A) : The population of melanized moths increased in areas after Industrial Revolution.
    Reason (R) : In Industrial environment lichen covered trees were replaced by soot-covered trees offering better camouflage to dark coloured moths.

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              CBSE CLASS XII Previous Year Papers

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