Class 10 / Science

Class 10 Science Heredity Notes

Notes on heredity, variation, Mendel's experiments, dominant and recessive traits, and sex determination.

advancedRevision notes

Key points

  • Heredity is the transfer of traits from parents to offspring.
  • Variation helps populations survive changing environments.
  • Dominant traits express even when one copy is present.
  • In humans, sex determination depends on the combination of sex chromosomes.

Mendel's ideas

Mendel studied inheritance using pea plants and contrasting traits.

His work showed that traits are inherited as separate factors, now called genes.

Sex determination

Human females have XX chromosomes and males have XY chromosomes.

The sperm contributes either X or Y, so it determines the sex of the child.

Quick practice

  1. Define heredity.
  2. What is variation?
  3. Differentiate dominant and recessive traits.
  4. Who determines the sex of a child in humans?

Related practice

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