Skip to main content

Heredity and Variations

Heredity

The continuous transfer of genes from one generation to another and the study of expression is called heredity and the traits which are transferred from one generation to another are called inherited traits. New traits develop through both heredity and variations.

The word genetics was coined by William Bateson in 1905 from the Greek word gen which means ‘to be’ or ‘to increase’. But the father of genetics is called the Austrian priest Gregor John Mendel.

Heredity and Variations
Volcanoes and Its Types

Variations

Despite the passing of inherited traits from parents to the offspring, there are some traits in the offspring which are completely different from the parents, these are called Variations, that is, the differences found in homogeneous members are called differences. There are 6 types of variations –

  1. Germinal or hereditary variations
  2. Somatic or environmental or acquired variations
  3. Discontinuous variations
  4. Continuous variations
  5. Determinate variations
  6. Indeterminate variations

also read : Key Words Related toAgriculture and Animal Husbandry

Types of Variations

There are 6 types of variations, which are mainly kept in three pairs –

1. Germinal or hereditary variations

These variations take place in the germ cells i.e. germplasm and are transferred from one generation to another. They are hereditary. For example, hair and eye color.

2. Somatic or environmental or acquired variations

These variations are mainly due to environmental conditions, such as food, temperature or any other external factor. They are not inherited. For example, the difference in skin color.

3. Discontinuous variations

The sudden change in the body of any organism is called discontinuous variation. They are numerical or qualitative. Numerical variation can be positive or negative while qualitative variation shows new features.

4. Continuous variations

Small systematic variations found in homogeneous organisms from generation to generation, by which new traits are displayed, are called continuous variations.

5. Determinate variations

Variations found continuously in biological evolution, which keep on developing in a certain direction. They are called deterministic variations. They are beneficial or harmful.

also read : Pongal : A South Indian Festival

6. Indeterminate variations

Unlimited variations in any direction are called undetermined variations. They do not have any significance.

Reasons of Variations

Variations result from environmental influences, use or non-use of organs, or changes in genes.

  1. Environmental Effects – Changes in the organism by light, heat, nutrition, air pressure etc. They are not inherited.
  2. Changes in gene structure – The variations resulting due to this are inherited and after that the gene structure changes.
    1. Sexual reproduction – it is due to the following reasons
      1. Dual parentage – as a result of mixing of parental chromosomes from generation to generation.
      2. Meiosis – formation of a new gene structure due to the irregular division and exchange of homologous chromosomes during cell division and independent separation of gametes at fertilization.
    2. Mutation – It is due to the following reasons
      1. Gene Mutation – The chemical structure of a gene of a particular trait or its position on a chromosome is changed.
      2. Chromosomal Mutations – Changes in the structure of chromosomes due to errors such as transfer, reversal, deletion, frequency etc. at the time of meiosis.
      3. Chromosome group mutation – Variation arises due to change in the number of chromosomes.

Importance of Variations

Variations are the basis of biological evolution. Beneficial variations are inherited from generation to generation, resulting in the development of a new species. Both Heredity and Variations are important for the development of new organisms and new traits.

Heredity and Variations –  Download or Print this article using “Print Button” below the article. If you having trouble in printing or downloading, just write a quick mail given top of the site. And Please Don’t Forget to like, share and subscribe us for more updates .

also read : Topographies Formed By Ocean Water

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Fault – Endogenous Force

Fault – Endogenous Force The relief of our earth is full of variations and contrasts. Due to fault-endogenous force on the upper surface of the earth, some fault valley, ramp valley have been formed. Somewhere there are deep trenches, and somewhere there is sea. In some places there are snow-filled glaciers and mountain ranges, where there is no trace of vegetation, then there are also marshy places, which are full of oddities and mysteries. Have we ever thought, what is the reason for all these differences? The answer is –  Internal Structure Of The Earth  Mainly two types of forces work on the earth, which are as follows – Endogenous forces – By these, disparities are created on the earth. Like – Earthquake, Tsunami, Long term force etc. Exogenous Forces – These are the plane stabilizing forces of the earth. Like – flowing water, sea water, glacier, wind etc. Genetic Terminology - Genetics 1. Endogenous Force As we said above, inequalities are created on the earth by endoge...

Different Branches and Sub-Branches of Science and Their Fields of Study

Science Science is a very wide field. There are various branches and sub-branches of science. It is mainly divided into two parts Natural Science and Social Science. Natural Science is again divided into two parts Physical Science and Biological Science, which are further divided into various branches and sub-branches. While various subjects of Arts Group have been kept under Social Science. Indian Classical Dance Form Different Branches of Science and Their Fields of Study  Animal Science or Zoology - Zoology: Detailed study of different types of living and dead animals Botany - Study of different types of plants and their activities. Paleontology -  Palaeobiology or Palaeontology: Study of different types of fossils (animals or plants). Paleobotany – Palaeobotany: Study of plant fossils. Palynology - Palynology: Study of different types of pollen grains. Genetics - Genetics: Study of genetic characteristics of organisms and their heredity. Ecology: Study of the environme...

Bt Toxin

Bt Crop Containing Bt Toxin Gene Bt refers to Bacillus thuringiensis i.e. Bt crop contains the amount of toxin obtained from the above bacterium or rather Bt toxin is formed in these crops which is active only when the crop is eaten by insects. In this way, after eating the crop, this toxin becomes active by going into the intestine of the insect and the insect dies. Pongal : A South Indian Festival Now the question arises that how did this poison reach inside the plants. Bt bacteria store many toxin proteins inside their spores and this toxin protein is made by the Bt toxin gene present inside the bacterium, that is, this toxin is produced by the Bt toxin gene. By biotechnology, this toxin gene is isolated from the bacterium and put in the gene of crop plants, due to which this toxin starts forming inside the crop plants as well. Exogenous Forces - Weathering and Erosion When Bt toxin is in the cell of bacteria or crop plants, then it is in dormant state and at this time it is called...