Question

Define heredity. Explain the mechanism of hereditary changes.

Answer 1

The genes are known to be carriers of heredity from one generation to another. Genetics is a branch of science that deals with the study of heredity.

Complete step by step answer:
Heredity is the mechanism of transfer of genetic and phenotypic traits from one generation to the next generation. Genes carry hereditary. More variation in this heredity pattern is observed in organisms who reproduce by modes of sexual reproduction rather than the organisms who reproduce by asexual mode of reproduction. Various changes can take place in these heredity patterns due to varied reasons. The first and foremost reason can be a phenomenon explained by Darwin, the natural selection. According to this, the traits which favor and support the survival of organisms are chosen to be transferred to the next generation. This phenomenon can give rise to change in heredity into such traits that enable the organism to be fitter for competition and survival. The second reason can be genetic drift. The sudden changes in the genome of organisms are called genetic drift. Such changes can occur in small populations as well. These changes give rise to change in heredity. Another reason for these changes can be mutation which is also sudden changes in a single or multiple nucleotides of a gene which can make it abnormal and can result in more, less, no production or production of different proteins in an organism. These changes can sometimes cause some disorders. One more event which can give rise to changes in heredity is the recombination during the meiotic cell division. This is an event where the non-sister chromatids cross over leading to the exchange of genetic material which may lead to heredity changes.

Additional information: Having information on heredity is important, as it indicates which are the important traits and are necessary for the existence of a particular organism.

Note: There are some internal and some external factors which cause changes in heredity. Natural selection is an external reason and the rest are internal reasons which can be induced by certain external factors too.