Chromosomes and Genes Chromosomal Abnormalities Multiple Births What Is Heredity? Principles of Heredity Hereditary Characteristics

CHROMOSOMES AND GENES
CHROMOSOMAL ABNORMALITIES
MULTIPLE BIRTHS
WHAT IS HEREDITY?
PRINCIPLES OF HEREDITY
HEREDITARY CHARACTERISTICS
HEREDITY
CHROMOSOMES AND GENES
Before the human being is to be conceived

an egg cell or ovum from the mother must be
fertilized by the sperm cell from the father. A
brand new life begins with the fertilization
of the egg cell: Both the mother and the
father contribute an equal amount of heredity
to the new individual. One half of the
necessary number of chromosomes comes
from the mother and the other half from
father.
Most body cells contain 46 chromosomes or

23 pairs of chromosomes. At conception, the
human being receives 23 chromosomes from
the fathers sperm and 23 from the mothers
ovum. During the fertilization, the 23
chromosomes from the sperm will pair up
with the 23 chromosomes from the egg cell, to
form 46 chromosomes needed by a new
human being.
CHROMOSOMES are thread-like or rope-like

bodies that contain the genes, they are usually
found in pairs. Chromosomes are either classified
as autosomes or trait chromosomes and gonosomes
or sex chromosomes.
GENES are the real bearers of hereditary traits.
Dominant genes are strong genes; the trait that
dominant genes carry will always be manifested in
the offspring. Recessive genes are weak genes; the
trait that the recessive gene carries can only be
manifested if it is paired with another recessive
gene of its kind.
Biologist sorted out the 23 pairs of

chromosomes, that is, 22 pairs are autosomes or
trait chromosomes while one pair is gonosome
or sex chromosomes.
CHROMOSOMAL ABNORMALITIES
In
rare cases, a female may be born with

only one X chromosome instead of the usual
XX. Females with this condition
(Turners syndrome) fail to develop sexually
at puberty. They are usually of normal
intelligence but they show specific cognitive
defects. They do poorly in arithmetic and on
test of visual form perception and spatial
organization.
There
are also some cases when the 23rd

chromosome. Fails to divide properly and
the developing organism ends up with an
extra X or Y chromosome. An individual
with an XXY 23rd chromosome is physically
male but with marked feminine
characteristics. His breast are enlarge and
his testes are small and do not produce
sperm. (Klinefelters syndrome),
Another
sex chromosomal abnormality in

males is man with an extra Y chromosome
(type XYY). They are taller than average
and are reported to be unusually
aggressive.
MULTIPLE BIRTHS
Two basic mechanisms account for multiple births;
IDENTICAL or monozygotic twins arise when one

egg cell or ovum further divides into two after being
fertilized by one sperm. They are exactly the same
genetic constitutions, thus, they always have the
same sex and very similar looks.
NON-IDENTICAL/ FRATERNAL or dizygotic twins
arise from two eggs/ova which are fertilized by two
different sperm cells. They are no longer the same in
their genetic make-up, thus, they may be of the same
or different sexes. Multiple births are more than two
infants arising from one or a combination of these
WHAT IS HEREDITY?
HEREDITY
The process by which various
characteristics are transmitted to the
individual at the time of fertilization.
It determines the similarities between
organisms of any kind.
PRINCIPLES OF HEREDITY
Principle
of Variation states that No

two individual of any kind are exactly
alike even identical twins have mild
differences from each other in certain ways.
Some of this difference between organisms
of the same species is due to heredity, other
due to environment.
Even if children look very much like their

parents, we are still recognized one from the
other. One of us tends to be different from our
parents and from one another.
Principle of Dominance and Recessiveness

determines the presence of similarities and
differences among family members.
Genes have an important attribute which is

called dominance or recessiveness. When both
members of the gene pair are dominant, the
individual manifest the form of the trait
specified by these dominant genes. When are
gene is dominant and the other recessive, the
dominant gene again determine the form of the
trait. Only if the gene contributed by both
parents are recessive form of the expressed.
Principle
of Chance within the limits of

potential traits transmissible by heredity, chance
plays a significant role making the absolute
prediction almost impossible. The hereditary
endowments and the number of births are
played by chance alone. Which of the millions of
sperm cells will fertilize the ripened egg cell is
attributed to chance alone.
Principle
of Reproduction states that Like

begets like, where human individuals will
reproduce their own kind.
Principle
of Sex-Linked Characteristics
these sex-linked traits are carried by the
same genes that determine sex.
Furthermore, these sex-linked traits are
carried by women but, usually suffered by
most men. One example of these sex-linked
traits is colorblindness.
Sex determination. The sex of the offspring

depends on the paring of the sex
chromosomes from the mother and father. If
the zygote receives an X from its mother
another X from its father, the offspring will be
a girl. If the zygote receives X from its mother
and Y from the father, the offspring is a boy.
Its clear then that we always receive an X from
our mother while an X or Y from our father.
Thus, it is the fathers chromosome
contribution that determines a childs sex.
HEREDITARY CHARACTERISTICS
Physical
traits the appearance in general like

facial features, complexion, height, and body
built. Physical defects are characteristics like
harelip, cleft-palate, stub-fingers, polydactyl, two
jointed fingers and clubbed feet. Physical
diseases predisposition to tuberculosis, and
hypertension.
Mental traits examples are I.Q. level, special
talents, some cases of mental retardation, and
predisposition to mental disorder. Some mental
defects like feeble-mindedness, and some forms
of insanity can be traced to heredity.

Chromosomes and Genes Chromosomal Abnormalities Multiple Births What Is Heredity? Principles of Heredity Hereditary Characteristics

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Chromosomes and Genes Chromosomal Abnormalities Multiple Births What Is Heredity? Principles of Heredity Hereditary Characteristics

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Chromosomes and Genes Chromosomal Abnormalities Multiple Births What Is Heredity? Principles of Heredity Hereditary Characteristics

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

CHROMOSOMES AND GENES

CHROMOSOMES AND GENES

Before the human being is to be conceived

Most body cells contain 46 chromosomes or

CHROMOSOMES are thread-like or rope-like

Biologist sorted out the 23 pairs of

rare cases, a female may be born with

are also some cases when the 23rd

sex chromosomal abnormality in

IDENTICAL or monozygotic twins arise when one

of Variation states that No

Even if children look very much like their

Principle of Dominance and Recessiveness

Genes have an important attribute which is

of Chance within the limits of

of Reproduction states that Like

Sex determination. The sex of the offspring

traits the appearance in general like

You might also like