CHAPTER 3 HEREDITY AND VARIATION

3.1 Understanding Cell Division

3.2 Understanding the Principles and Mechanism of Inheritance
3.3 Understanding Sex Determination and the Occurrence of Twins
in Human Beings
3.4 Understanding Mutation
3.5 Evaluating the Effects of Genetic Research on Human Life
3.6 Analysing Variation among Living Things
3.7 Realising the Need to Adhere to a Code of Ethics in Genetic
Research
3.1 Understanding
Cell Division
1

Cell Division
All living organisms undergo growth and reproduction. All organisms are made up of
____________________. These ___________________ through ______________ and
___________________________ to new cells. There are two types of cell division,
_____________ and ____________.
Chromosome, Genes and DNA

1. a) _______________ are the basic units of _________________ that determine the

____________________________________________
b) Genes carry _______________________ from one generation to another.
c) Genes are located in ___________________ known as __________________
__________________
2. __________________ are located in the _______________, carrying information that
__________________________.
3. Each chromosome is made up of long molecules known as __________________
___________________________.
Mitosis
1. _____________ is a type of cell division which occurs in _________________. Each
cell _______________________________________________________
2. Mitosis only occurs in somatic cells but not in __________________________
3. The genetic content of the new cells is ____________ as that of the parent cell.
4. The new cells have the _______________________________ as the parent cell.
5. The importance of mitosis includes the following:
a) _____________________________________________________________
b) _____________________________________________________________
c) ______________________________________________________________
Meoisis
1. __________ is the _____________________________ that produces _________
2. Gametes contain ______________________________________________found in
the _____________________________
3. ________________________ in reproductive cells i.e. in the ____________ and
___________ of animals and the ________________ and ____________of plants.
4. The importance of meiosis includes the following:
a) ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
b) ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
c) ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Process of Mitosis
2

Proses of Meiosis
3

Exercise 3.2
4

3. (a) State four differences between cell division through mitosis and meiosis.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
[4 Marks]

The cell division that takes place in the body parts of a student is shown above. Explain
how you would build a concept based on the information above. Your explanation should
include the following.
(i) Identify two common features
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
(ii) Build an initial concept
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
(iii) Give one example of body part that undergoes this cell division and one example of
body part that does not undergo this cell division. Give reason for each example.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
(iv) Explain the actual concept
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
[6 Marks]

3.2 Understanding the Principles and Mechanism of Inheritance

5

Each __________________ has ________________, i.e. _____________________

from the father and _________________________ from the mother. Therefore, we
____________ half of our traits from our fathers and the other half from our mothers.
Dominant Genes and Recessive Genes
1. _______________________ are controlled by genes that exist in ____________
2. __________________ are genes that ________________________ when paired
with genes that are __________________________________
3. __________________ are weaker genes which __________________________
________________________ when paired with dominant genes.
4.
The table below shows some of _____________________________________
in humans.
Dominant traits
Recessive traits

The Mechanism Of Inheritance

1. _______________________(1822-1884) was an Austrian scientist known as the
_________________ because he discovered the _________________________
2. ___________refers to the ______________________ found in the genes of an
organism.
3. ____________ refers to the ______________________ which can be seen in an
organism.
4. The genotype of an organism ___________________________________ of the
organism.
5. The following illustration shows the _____________________________________

Assume that 'T ' represents the dominant gene (tall) and
't ' represents the recessive gene (dwarf)

Exercise 3.2 Activity

Aim

: To study genetically inherited traits.

7

Material

: Two plastic tokens and labeling paper.

Section A

1. Label both sides of token 1 with letter T to represent dominant gene.

2. Label both sides of token 2 with letter't' to represent recessive gene.
3. Toss the both tokens and observe combination of the letter at token surface after
falling on table and record in table below.
4. Repeat step 3 as much as 25 times.
Section B

Repeat simulation by marking both tokens with letter T while the other side is labeled 't'.

Discussion:
1. Complete the percentage for simulation A and B.

2. Fill in the blank with the term dominant genes and recessive genes.
(a) Recessive genes: Genes which only show their effects in the absence of dominant
genes .
(b) Dominant genes: Genes which show their characteristics that they control when
paired with a dominant gene or recessive genes
3. The mechanism of trait inheritance in Mandel's experiment can be illustrated by using
the Punnet square. Complete the Punnet Square for Simulation A and Simulation B.

Combination: Genotype Tt 100 %

If T represents gene for tall and t represents for dwarf,

Ratio of phenotype tall to dwarf is 3 : 1

Conclusion

: The characteristics of offspring depend on parent genes.

3.3 Understanding Sex Determination and the Occurrence of Twins in

Human Beings
Sex Determination and Occurrence of Twins
Who determines the _________________ ? Is it the mother or the father? If you are a
____________ you have inherited the ________________from your father. If you are a
__________ you have inherited the ________________ from your father.
9

Sex Chromosomes
1. Human ___________ have __________________ or _____________________
2. __________________ of the chromosomes are _______________ while two are
____________________
3. __________ have ________________________________________________ the
_________________ and the ________________________
4. ________________only have one type of sex chromosomes: the __________
_________. The ______________________ can be written as _______________
5.The __________________________ can be written as _________________
Sex Determination Mechanism
The ________________________ is determined by the _____________________
During the _________________________ the ___________________ is
_____________by a_____________ carrying the ____________________ then a
______________will be born. If the __________is ___________by a____________
carrying the _____________________ then a ____________will be born.
The _________________ of getting a son or a daughter is the same that is _______

Sex Determination and Occurrence of Twins

There are two types of twins, ______________________________________________
Identical twins
1. A woman usually produces ________
in one ___________________ When
the ovum is __________________by
__________, a _________is _______

non-identical twins
1. The ovaries produce _________ at the
same time and the ova are _______
by _____________________
2. The __________ are ___________
10

2. The zygote then _______________

_____________________ which start
to develop.
3. Both zygotes develop and become
identical twins.

4. The characteristics of identical twins

include the following:
(a) they ______________________
(b) they are of the ______________
(c) they have the ______________
__________________________

_____on the________ with

___________________.
3. Both zygotes develop to form two
embryos and grow into two
_____________________________

4. The characteristics of non-identical

twins include the following:
(a) they have __________________
(b) their ________can be the ______
or ______________
(c) they have ___________________
___________________________

Exercises 3.3

11

1.

2.
12

3.4

Understanding Mutation
We know that every human being has 46 chromosomes. During the process of meiosis or
mitosis some chromosomes may _____________________ or there may be some changes
in the structure or number of chromosomes. This results in _______________
_________________________ or the ____________________ of the organism. Changes
that occur spontaneously in the structure of the genes or chromosomes of an organism are
13

known as _________________. There are two types of mutations, i.e.

__________________ and __________________________________
Chromosome Mutation
1. Chromosome mutation occurs ____________________________________________
______________________________________________________
2. Structural changes in chromosomes include:
(a deletion
)

(b
)

inversion

(c) duplication

3. Changes in the number of chromosomes causes...

(a) __________________
- __________________________________
- __________________________________
- mental defects and heart problems
- small sloping eye, protruding tongue, flat and
rounded face
- also known as ______________________
(b) ____________________
(c) _____________________
Gene Mutation
1. Gene mutation refers to _______________________________________________
_______________________________________
2. Gene mutation is difficult to detect in the early stages because physical changes cannot
be seen clearly.
3. Gene mutation causes the following heredity traits.
14

(a) Colour-blindness

(b) Albinism

(c) Sickle cell anaemia

(d) Haemophilia

4. Mutations rarely occur naturally because the ______________________________ of

mutations can be __________________________________________________
Factors or agents which cause mutations are known as _______________
Factors that Cause Mutation
1. Mutagens that have been identified to cause mutations are ___________________
____________________
2. Examples of radioactive radiation _______________________________________ the higher the dose of radiation is. the higher the rate of mutation will be.
3. Chemical mutagens include ___________________________________________
_________________________________________ -These substances are capable of
changing the structure of genes and chromosomes.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Mutations
1. Mutations have caused changes in the structure of proteins in the chromosomes.
Therefore, the chromosomes may not function properly.
2. Mutations can bring positive or negative effects to all living things.
3. The following are some positive effects of mutations:
a) ___________________________________
b) ___________________________________
c) ___________________________________
- An example of a new rice species is MR123. This rice species is ______________
___________________ resulting in ____________________________________
4. The following are some negative effects of mutations:
a) ______________________________________
b) ______________________________________
c) ______________________________________

3.5 Evaluating the Effects of Genetic Research on Human Life

___________________ is a ____________________ of genes, their functions, the
characters that they control and the diseases brought by them. Genetic research has given
________________ to humans, in particular in the fields of ____________and __________
15

Contributions of Genetic Research

1.
In Malaysia, agencies such as the
_____________________________________________ _________(MARDI) have
conducted _____________________ to produce new varieties of paddy, chillies, papayas
and durians which are of high quality.
2.
The following are some successful genetic research results:
b)
Papaya Eksotika Malaysia - ____________________________________________
c)
Paddy MR84 - ____________________________________________________
d)
Chillies MC 11 dan 12 - _______________________________________
e)
Durian D24, D99. D100 - _________________________________
Genetic Research in Medicine
1. In medicine, genetic research can help humans ___________________________ and
_____________________________________
2. __________________ has led to the ____________________________________
such as Down's syndrome, haemophilia and albinism, and the_________ of genetic
diseases.
3.
The __________ is a ________________________________________________
_______
4.
Genetic engineering with
__________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________ This can be used to treat cancer,
haemophilia, thalassemia and other diseases.
5.
Gene tests to detect
______________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
6. ___________________________________ involves the ___________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Genetic Research in Agriculture
1.
Genetic research in agriculture has brought a lot of benefits to us.
2.
The following are the benefits of genetic research:
a) Plants which are _______________________________________________________
b) Plants can ____________________________________________________________
c) The production of _____________ allows the production of quality plants. Quality crops
with _____________________________________________________________
3.
Genetic engineering carried out on animals has brought the following benefits.
a) Various _______________________________ to prevent diseases such as hepatitis B.
Interferon, growth hormones and enzymes have also been produced.
b) Animal products of a better quality have been produced in _______________ such as
_________________________________
c) _____________________ have been produced so as not to depend on animals sources.
The chart below shows the advantages and disadvantages of genetic research.
Advantages
Disadvantages
16

Crops and Livestock Breeding

1. Selective breeding is _____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
_
2. In the process of breeding, _________________________________________________
__________________________while the less beneficial traits are removed.
3. This can improve the quality of crops and livestock such as their size, weight, yield and
produce crops which can ___________________________________
4. Crops such as wheat, corn, rice, and barley have _______________________________
______________________________________________________________________
_
5. In livestock - selective cattle breeding has produced the high quality Mafriwal cow which
can produce a lot of milk and meat.

Genetic Research and their Impact

1. ____________________ - SMF is the result of genetic modification of plants or livestock
carried out by adding genes to the genotype to improve the quality yield production
resistance so that the plants can ____________________________________________
2. The high yield from the genetically modified crop may be needed __________________
_____________________ but the seeds and fruits may cause genetic pollution.
17

3. Genetically modified foods containing genes which are

___________________________
___________________________________________________ When humans eat these
foods, the bacteria in these foods will be difficult to be eliminated from the body because
they are resistant to antibiotics.

3.6 Analysing Variation among Living Things

Variation in Humans
1. Variation refers to _______________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________ Individuals of
the same species in a population are indeed different from one another.
2. These differences are caused by ___________________________________________
3. Variation occurs during ___________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
4. There are two types of variation: ____________________________________________
5. The differences between continuous and discontinuous variation are shown in the table
below.

Continuous Variation

Aspect
Definition

Example

Causes

Can be
inherited

18

Discontinuous Variation

The resulting
graph

Exercises 3.6 Section A

19

1.

20

2.

21

3.7 Realising the Need to Adhere to a Code of Ethics in Genetic Research

Genetic research has made many contributions to the fields of _______________________
________________________Researchers ______________________________________
so as not to give rise to various problems in scientific research. Although the techniques,
procedures and skills used in the field of genetic research are very useful but they must
_________________________________________________________________________
_
Abuse of Genetic Research is Threating Humans
1. If human cloning is allowed freely without control it will ___________________________
_______________________________________
2. Genetic research may be used for _____________________________, but it should not
be used for destroying human lives.
3. Misuse of genetic skills in __________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
_
4. If dangerous animals are produced through genetic engineering, the animals are likely
______________________________________________________________________
5. The process of cloning cells (stem cells) may be unethical because after clonings,
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
The Importance of Establishing and Complying with Ethics in Scientific Research for
the Benefit of Mankind
1. Scientific research should sincerely be carried out for the benefit of mankind and not for
the ___________________________________________________
2. To prevent abuse of genetic knowledge in scientific research, a code of ethics and moral
values must be established and adhered to by all researchers.
3. The security and dignity of all living things must be respected in this code of ethics.
4. The code of ethics should indicate the following.
a) __________________________________________________________
b) The use of human cells in genetic research is for ___________________________
c) Genetically modified (GM) crops ______________________: If they are dangerous,
they must be destroyed and strictly prohibited.
5. All results of scientific research, whether successful or unsuccessful, must be
____________________________________________________
6. An_____________________________________________________to monitor and
ensure that all parties abide by the rules and code of ethics for scientific research.

22

Exercises 3.7 Section C

23

24