Biology

Heredity and Evolution

Question:

What factors could lead to the rise of a new species ?

Answer:

Genetic variations, natural selection and reproductive isolation could lead to the rise of a new species.

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Heredity and Evolution

Q 1.

(a) If a normal human cell has 46 chromosomes, how many chromosomes will be there in a human (;) sperm cell, and (ii) zygote ?
(b) What sizes of plants are produced if both parents have genes Tt ?

Q 2.

Mention three important features of fossils which help in the study of evolution.

Q 3.

Will geographical isolation be a major factor in the speciation of an organism that reproduces asexually ? Why or why not ?

Q 4.

a) Name the scientist who gave the theory of origin of life on earth. What is this theory ?
(b) How are those species which are now ‘extinct’ studied ?

Q 5.

Name the scientist who gave the theory of evolution.

Q 6.

How does the creation of variations in a species promote survival ?

Q 7.

How are fossils formed? Describe, in brief, two methods of determining the age of fossils. [All India]

Q 8.

What are the chromosomes XY and XX known as ?

Q 9.

State one characteristic which shows that the birds are very closely related to dinosaurs.

Q 10.

Where did life originate on the earth ?

Q 11.

Name two organisms which are now extinct and studied from their fossils.

Q 12.

Match the terms given in column I with those given in column II :
lakhmir-singh-biology-class-10-solutions-heredity-and-evolution-1

Q 13.

What is meant by acquired and inherited traits ? Explain with one example each.

Q 14.

A woman has only daughters. Analyse the situation genetically and provide a suitable explanation.

Q 15.

How do Mendel’s experiments show that traits are inherited independently ?

Q 16.

A man with blood group A marries a woman with blood O and their daughter has blood group O. Is this information enough to tell you which of the traits  blood group A or O is dominant ? Why or why not ?

Q 17.

Give an example of characteristics being used to determine how close two species am in evolutionary terms ?

Q 18.

Define homologous organs.

Q 19.

Where are the genes located? What is the chemical nature of genes?

Q 20.

Who provided the evidence of DNA as the genetic material? Write the names of the components of the DNA molecule.

Q 21.

Define variation in relation to a species. Why is variation beneficial to the species? [Delhi]

Q 22.

How is the equal genetic contribution of male and female parents ensured in the progeny? [Delhi]

Q 23.

State whether the following statement is true or false :
The sex of an infant is not a case of inheritance of characteristics.

Q 24.

A new born child has an XY pair of chromosmes. Will it be a baby boy or a baby girl ?

Q 25.

Name the first scientist who studied the inheritance of traits from one generation to the next.

Q 26.

What are the four blood groups in humans ?

Q 27.

Fill in the following blanks with suitable words :Fill in the following blanks with suitable words :
(a) Genes always work in …………………
(b) In pea plants, the gene for dwarfness is………………… whereas that for tallness is…………………
(c) Most people have………………… earlobes but some have………………… earlobes.
(d) A human gamete contains………………… chromosomes whereas a normal body cell has………………… chromosomes in it.
(e) All races of man have………………… blood groups.
(f) The………………… chromosomes for a………………… are XX whereas that for a………………… are XY.

Q 28.

Gregor Mendel’s first law of genetics states “Of a pair of contrasted characters, only one can be represented in a gamete by its internal ‘factor’.
(a) Give the modern name for this ‘factor’.
(b) State where these factors are found in gametes.

Q 29.

Does genetic combination of mother play a significant role in determining the sex of a new born baby ?

Q 30.

(a)What is meant by ‘heredity’ ? What are the units of heredity.
(b) State Mendel’s first law of inheritance.

Q 31.

(a) Why did Mendel choose pea plants for conducting his experiments on inheritance ?
(b) State Mendel’s second law of inheritance.

Q 32.

(a) What do you understand by the term ‘variation’ ?
(b) Name two human traits which show variation.

Q 33.

Why are human beings who look so different from each other in terms of size, colour and looks said to belong to the same species ?

Q 34.

Name five varieties of vegetables which have been produced from ‘wild cabbage’ by the process of artificial selection.

Q 35.

Will geographical isolation be a major factor in the speciation of an organism that reproduces asexually ? Give reason for your answer.

Q 36.

Out of bacteria, spider, fish and chimpanzee, which organism has a better body design in evolutionary terms ? Give reason for your answer.

Q 37.

With the help of an example, explain how variation leads to evolution.

Q 38.

(a) Define ‘speciation’. Explain how speciation occurs.
(b) Will geographical isolation be a major factor in the speciation of a self-pollinating plant species ? Give reason for your answer.

Q 39.

Does the occurrence of diversity of animals on earth suggest their diverse ancestry also? Discuss this point in the light of evolution.

Q 40.

Why are the small numbers of surviving tigers a cause of worry from the point of view of genetics ?

Q 41.

In evolutionary terms, can we say which among bacteria, spiders, fish and chimpanzees have a ‘better body design’ why or why not ?

Q 42.

How are the areas of study – evolution and classification inteilinked?

Q 43.

Explain the terms analogous and homologous organs with examples.

Q 44.

Only variations that confer an advantage to an individual organism will survive in a population. Do you agree with this statement ? Why or why not ?

Q 45.

Define variation.

Q 46.

Define a gene.

Q 47.

What is a sex chromosome?

Q 48.

During which stage can the chromosomes be seen clearly? Write the features of the eukaryotic and prokaryotic chromosomes.

Q 49.

What do you understand by the double helical structure of DNA? Who proposed this structure?

Q 50.

Define evolution. Describe the contribution of Lamarck.