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8
CHAPTER

Heredity

e have seen that reproductive processes give rise to new individuals
Wthat are similar, but subtly different. We have discussed how some
amount of variation is produced even during asexual reproduction. And
the number of successful variations are maximised by the process of
sexual reproduction. If we observe a field of sugarcane we find very little
variations among the individual plants. But in a number of animals
including human beings, which reproduce sexually, quite distinct
variations are visible among different individuals. In this chapter, we
shall be studying the mechanism by which variations are created and
inherited.

CCUMUL TION OFOF VARIAARIATIONTION
8.1 .1.1 .1 AA A A ACCUMULCCUMULAA AA ATION OF VTION OF V VTION OF VARIAARIATIONTION
8 8 8 8 . 1 CCUMUL TION ARIATION
CCUMUL
DURING
DURING REPRODUCTIONREPRODUCTION
DURING REPRODUCTION
REPRODUCTION
DURING
DURING REPRODUCTION
Inheritance from the previous generation provides
both a common basic body design, and subtle
changes in it, for the next generation. Now think
about what would happen when this new generation,
in its turn, reproduces. The second generation will
have differences that they inherit from the first
generation, as well as newly created differences
(Fig. 8.1).
Figure 8.1 would represent the situation if a
single individual reproduces, as happens in asexual
reproduction. If one bacterium divides, and then the
resultant two bacteria divide again, the four
Figure
Figure 8.18.1
Figure
Figure 8.1
Figure 8.1
8.1
Creation of diversity over succeeding individual bacteria generated would be very similar.
generations. The original organism at the top There would be only very minor differences between
will give rise to, say, two individuals, similar them, generated due to small inaccuracies in DNA
in body design, but with subtle differences. copying. However, if sexual reproduction is involved,
Each of them, in turn, will give rise to two even greater diversity will be generated, as we will
individuals in the next generation. Each of see when we discuss the rules of inheritance.
the four individuals in the bottom row will
be different from each other. While some of Do all these variations in a species have equal
these differences will be unique, others will chances of surviving in the environment in which they
be inherited from their respective parents, find themselves? Obviously not. Depending on the
who were different from each other. nature of variations, different individuals would have

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