How are Traits Passed Onto the Next Generation?
Traits are passed on to the next generation through genes. Traits are the characteristics of an organism that affect how it interacts with the environment. Traits can be physical, such as eye color or height, or behavioral. These traits are determined by an organism’s genes, which are located on chromosomes. Environmental factors can also influence the expression of traits.
How are Traits Passed on to the Next Generation?
During fertilization, an offspring receives one copy of each chromosome (and therefore one copy of each gene) from each parent. The genes passed on from parents to offspring determine the traits of the next generation. This inheritance of traits is called heredity.
Traits can be passed down in two ways:
Mendelian Traits
These traits follow the principles of Mendelian inheritance, which describes how traits controlled by a single gene with dominant and recessive alleles are passed on.
Non-Mendelian Traits
Many traits are more complex and are not solely determined by a single gene. These traits are referred to as non-Mendelian traits and can involve multiple genes and environmental interactions.
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