MENDEL’S LAWS OF INHERITANCE

1. British geneticist RC Punnett developed a graphical representation of a genetic cross called ‘Punnett Square’. Mention the
possible result this representation predicts of the genetic cross carried?
2. State a difference between a gene and an allele
3. A geneticist interested in studying variations and patterns of inheritance in living beings prefers to choose organisms for
experiments with shorter life cycle. Provide a reason
4. Mention any two contrasting traits with respect to seeds in pea plant that were studied by Mendel
5. What are ‘true-breeding lines’ that are used to study inheritance pattern of traits in plants.
6. A garden pea plant (A) produced inflated yellow pod and another plant (B) of the same species produced constricted
green pods. Identify the dominant traits
7. A garden pea plant produced axial white flowers another of the same species produced terminal violet flowers. Identify the
dominant traits.
8. Mention two contrasting flower related traits studied by Mendel in pea plant experiments
9. Name the contrasting pod related traits studied by Mendel in his pea plant experiment.
10. Mention the type of allele that expresses itself only in homozygous state in an organism.
11. Pea flowers produce assured seed sets. Give a reason.
12. Although Mendel published his work on inheritance of characters in 1865 but for several reasons, it remained
unrecognised till 1900. Explain giving three reasons, why did it take so long.

INHERITANCE OF ONE GENE

13. Name the pattern of inheritance where F1 phenotype

(i) resembles only one of the two parents.
(ii) does not resemble either of the two parents and is in between the two.
14. Name the type of cross that would help to find the genotype of a pea plant bearing violet flowers.
15. A cross was carried out between two pea plants showing the contrasting traits of height of the plants. The results of the
cross showed 50% parental characters.
(i) Work out the cross with the help of a Punnett square.
(ii) Name the type of the cross carried out.
16. Write possible genotypes Mendel got when he crossed F1 tall plant with a dwarf pea plant.
17. Garden pea plant produced round, green seed. Another of same species produced wrinkled yellow seeds. Identify
dominant traits
18. When a tall pea plant was selfed, it produced one fourth of its progeny as dwarf. Explain with the help of a cross.
19. Tallness of pea plant is dominant trait, while dwarfness is the alternate recessive trait. When a pureline tall is crossed with
a pureline dwarf, what fraction of tall plants in F2-generation shall be heterozygous? Give reasons.
20. What is a test cross? How can it decipher the heterozygosity of a plant?
21. Explain the laws that Mendel derived from his monohybrid crosses
22. Name the stage of cell division where segregation of an independent pair of chromosomes occurs.
23. Name the event during cell division cycle that results in the gain and loss of chromosomes
24. State and explain the law of segregation as proposed by Mendel in a monohybrid cross. How is this law different from the
law of independent assortment ?

Incomplete Dominance

25. The F2 progeny of a monohybrid cross showed phenotypic and genotypic ratio as 1 : 2 : 1, unlike that of Mendel’s
monohybrid F2 ratio. With the help of a suitable example, work out a cross and explain how it is possible.
Or
Why are F2 phenotypic and genotypic ratios are same in a cross between red flowered snapdragon and white flowered
snapdragon plants? Explain with the help of cross.
 26. In snapdragon, a cross between true-breeding red flowered (RR) plants and true-breeding white flowered (rr) plants
showed a progeny of plants with all pink flowers.
(i) The appearance of pink flowers is not known as blending. Why?
(ii) What is this phenomenon known as?

Co-dominance

27. How many kinds of phenotype would you expect in F2-generation in a monohybrid cross exhibiting codominance?
28. With the help of one example, explain the phenomena of codominance and multiple allelism in human population.
29. How does the gene I control ABO blood group in humans? Write the effect the gene has on the structure of red blood cells
30. Explain the phenomena of dominance, multiple allelism and codominance taking human ABO blood group as an example.
31. Differentiate between incomplete dominance and codominance. Substantiate your answer with one example of each

INHERITANCE OF TWO GENES

32. In a dihybrid cross, when would the proportion of parental gene combinations be much higher than non-parental types, as
experimentally shown by Morgan and his group?
33. How is the phenotypic ratio of F2-generation in a dihybrid cross is different from monohybrid cross?
34. i) Work out the crosses so as to obtain the phenotypic ratios given below:
(a) 1 : 2 : 1 (in F2-generation)
(b) 3 : 1 (in F2-generation)
(c) 1 : 1 (in F1-generation)
(ii) Differentiate between pleiotropy and polygenic inheritance patterns
35. (i) Explain Mendel’s law of independent assortment by taking a suitable example.
(ii) How did Morgan show the deviation in inheritance pattern in Drosophila with respect to this law?
36. (i) A couple with blood group A and B, respectively have a child with blood group O. Work out a cross to show how it is
possible and the probable blood groups that can be expected in their other offspring.
(ii) Explain the genetic basis of blood groups in human population.
37. A woman with blood group A marries a man with blood group O. Discuss the possibilities of the inheritance of the blood
group in the following starting with ‘yes’ or ‘no’ for each.
(a) They produce children with blood group A only.
(b) They produce children, some with 0 blood group and some with A blood group.
38. A cross was carried out between a pea plant heterozygous for round and yellow seeds with a pea plant having wrinkled
and green seeds.
(i) Show the cross in a Punnett square.
(ii) Write the phenotype of the progeny of this cross.
(iii) What is this cross known as? State the purpose of conducting such a cross.
39. What is the inheritance pattern observed in the size of starch grains and seed shape of Pisum sativum. Work out the
monohybrid cross showing the above traits. How does this pattern of inheritance deviate from that of Mendelian law of
dominance? (Delhi 2013)
Or
Pea seeds with BB alleles have round seeds and large starch grains, while seeds with bb alleles have wrinkled seeds with
small starch grains.
Work out the cross between these two parents. Explain the phenotypic ratio of the progeny with respect to seed shape
and the starch grain size of the progeny produced.

Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance

40. Compare in any three ways the chromosomal theory of inheritance as proposed by Sutton and Bovery with that of
experimental results on pea plant presented by Mendel

Linkage and Recombination

41. Write the scientific name of the fruitfly. Why did Morgan prefer to work with fruit flies for his experiments? State any three
reasons
 42. Linkage and crossing over of genes are alternatives of each other. Justify with the help of an example.
43. In a dihybrid cross, white-eyed, yellow-bodied female Drosophila crossed with red-eyed, brown-bodied male Drosophila
produced in F2-generation 1.3% recombinants and 98.7% progeny with parental type combinations. This observation of
Morgan deviated from Mendelian F2-phenotypic dihybrid ratio. Explain, giving reasons Morgan’s observation.
44. (i) Explain linkage and recombination as put forth by TH Morgan based on his observations with Drosophila melanogaster
crossing experiment.
(ii) Write the basis on which Alfred Sturtevant explained gene mapping

POLYGENIC INHERITANCE

45. Explain polygenic inheritance with the help of an example.Give an example of polygenic trait in humans
46. In pea plants, the colour of the flower is either violet or white, whereas human skin colour shows many gradation.
Explain giving reasons how it is possible

PLEIOTROPY

47. Give an example of a gene responsible for multiple phenotypic expressions. What are such genes called? State the cause
that is responsible for such an effect.
48. Differentiate between multiple allelism and pleiotropy with the help of an example of each

SEX DETERMINATION

49. Give an example of an organism that exhibits haplo-diploidy sex-determination system

50. Give one example of organism exhibiting female heterogamety.
Or
Write the chromosomal basis of sex-determination in birds.
Or
Explain the mechanism of sex-determination in birds
51. Identify the correct statement
(i) Females of many birds have a pair of dissimilar ZW-chromosomes, while the males possess a pair of similar 2Z-
chromosomes.
(ii) Females of many birds have a pair of similar ZZ-chromosomes, while the males possess a pair of dissimilar ZW-
chromosomes
52. Identify and write the correct statement
(i) In grasshopper males, two sex chromosomes are X and Y type.
(ii) In grasshopper males, there exist XO type of sex-determinants.
53. Identify and write the correct statement
(i) Drosophila male has one X and one Y-chromosome.
(ii) Drosophila male has two X-chromosomes
54. Differentiate between male and female heterogamety
55. Women are often blamed for producing female children. Consequently, they are ill-treated and ostracised. How will you
address this issue scientifically, if you were to conduct an awareness programme to highlight the values involved?
56. Differentiate between ‘ZZ’ and ‘XT type of sex-determination mechanisms.
57. Write the types of sex-determination mechanisms the following crosses show. Give an example of each type.
(i) Female XX with male XO.
(ii) Female ZW with male ZZ.

DISORDERS

58. Write the sex of a human having XXY chromosome With 22 pairs of autosomes. Name the disorder this human suffers
from
59. Give an example of a human disorder that is caused due to a single gene mutation.
60. Give an example of a sex-linked recessive disorder in humans.
61. Why do normal red blood cells become
elongated and sickle-shaped in structure in a person suffering from sickle-cell anaemia?
 62. Explain sickle-cell anaemia pattern of inheritance with the help of a cross.
63. Name one autosomal dominant and one autosomal recessive Mendelian disorder in humans.
64. Write the genotype of
(i) an individual who is the carrier of sickle-cell anaemia gene, but apparently unaffected and
(ii) an individual affected with the disease
65. A human being suffering from Down’s syndrome shows trisomy of 21st chromosome. Mention the cause of this
chromosomal abnormality.
66. Name the genetic disorder caused by trisomy of 21st chromosome in a human. Write the diagnostic features of the
disorder.
67. The son of a haemophilic man may not get this genetic disorder. Mention the reason
68. Write the genotypes of the parents of a child suffering from thalassemia. State the cause of this disease.
69. Name a disorder a human suffers from as a result of monosomy of the sex chromosome. Give the karyotype and write the
symptoms.
70. A cross between a normal couple resulted in a son who was haemophilic and a normal daughter. In course of time, when
the daughter was married to a normal man, to their surprise, the grandson was also haemophilic.
(i) Represent this cross in the form of a pedigree chart. Give the genotypes of the daughter and her husband.
(ii) Write the conclusion you draw from the inheritance pattern of this disease.
71. A couple with normal vision bears a colourblind child. Work out the cross to show how it is possible and mention the sex
of the affected child.
72. Why is the possibility of a human female suffering from haemophilia rare? Explain.
73. Both haemophilia and thalassemia are blood related disorders in humans. Write their causes and the difference between
the two. Name the category of genetic disorder they both come under
74. (i) Name the kind of diseases/disorders that are likely to occur in humans if
(a) mutation in the gene that codes for an enzyme phenylalanine hydrolase occurs,
(b) there is an extra copy of chromosome 21,
(c) the karyotype is XXY.
(ii) Mention any one symptom of the diseases/disorders named above
75. (i) Colour blindness in humans is a sex-linked trait. Explain with the help of a cross.
(ii) In human beings, the sex of the child is determined by the father and not by the mother. Explain
76. (i) Name the genetic disorder in a human female having 44 + XO karyotype. Mention the diagnostic features of this
disorder.
(ii) Explain the cause of such chromosomal disorder
77. (i) Sickle-cell anaemia in humans is a result of point mutation. Explain.
(ii) Write the genotypes of both the parents, who have produced a sickle-celled anaemic offspring.
78. (i) How does a chromosomal disorder differ from a Mendelian disorder?
(ii) Name any two chromosomal aberration-associated disorders.
(iii) List the characteristics of the disorders mentioned above that help in their diagnosis
79. Identify a, b, c, d, e and / in the table given below

Pedigree Analysis

80. Why is pedigree analysis done in the study of human genetics? State the conclusions that can be drawn from it.
 Sample Question Paper 2023-24
Class XII
Biology (Subject Code-044)
Maximum Marks: 70 Time: 3 hours

General Instructions:
(i) All questions are compulsory.
(ii) The question paper has five sections and 33 questions. All questions are compulsory.
(iii) Section–A has 16 questions of 1 mark each; Section–B has 5 questions of 2 marks each; Section– C
has 7 questions of 3 marks each; Section– D has 2 case-based questions of 4 marks each; and
Section–E has 3 questions of 5 marks each.
(iv) There is no overall choice. However, internal choices have been provided in some questions. A
student has to attempt only one of the alternatives in such questions.
(v) Wherever necessary, neat and properly labeled diagrams should be drawn.

Section - A

Q.No. Question Marks

1 Remnants of nucellus are persistent during seed development in: 1

a) pea
b) groundnut
c) wheat
d) black pepper

2 The wall layer of microsporangium which nourishes the pollen grain is: 1
a) epidermis
b) endothecium
c) middle layers
d) tapetum

3 A short piece of DNA, having 20 base pairs, was analyzed to find the number of 1
nucleotide bases in each of the polynucleotide strands. Some of the results are
shown in the table.
Number of nucleotide bases
Adenine Cytosine Guanine Thymine
Strand 1 4 4
Strand 2 5
How many nucleotides containing Adenine were present in strand 2?
a) 2
b) 4
c) 5
d) 7

1
 In a certain species of insects, some have 13 chromosomes, and the others have
4 1
14chromosomes.The 13 and 14 chromosome bearing organisms are
a) males and females, respectively
b) females and males, respectively
c) all males
d) all females

At a particular locus, the frequency of allele A is 0.8 and that of allele a is 0.2.
5 1
What would be the frequency of heterozygotes in a random mating population at
equilibrium?
a) 0.32
b) 0.16
c) 0.24
d) 0.48

Variations caused due to mutations are

6 1
a) random and directionless
b) random and directional
c) random and small
d) random, small and directional

What is the smallest part of a DNA molecule that can be changed by a point
7 1
mutation?
a) Oligonucleotide
b) Codon
c) Gene
d) Nucleotide

8 What should be the genotype of the indicated member? 1

a) AA
b) Aa
c) XY
d) aa

2
 A patient was advised to have a kidney transplant. To suppress the immune
9 1
reaction, the doctor would administer him:
a) statins produced from Monascus purpureus
b) statins produced from Streptococcus thermophilus
c) cyclosporin A produced from Trichoderma polysporum
d) cyclosporin A produced from Clostridium butylicum

10 Identify the activity of endonuclease and exonuclease in the given image. 1

The main objective of production of pest resistant GM crops is to

11 1
a) encourage eco-friendly pesticides
b) reduce pesticide accumulation in food chain
c) eliminate pests from the field without the use of manual labour
d) retain maximum nutritional content in the crop that would be otherwise
consumed by pest

12 Observe the contents 1,2,3 and 4 of soil samples A,B and C shown in the graph. If 1
the temperature and soil moisture of all soil samples are identical, which soil
sample (s) will show faster decomposition?

3
 a) Soil Sample A
b) Soil Sample B
c) Soil Samples A and B both
d) Soil Sample C

Question No. 13 to 16 consist of two statements – Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Answer these
questions selecting the appropriate option given below:
a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
b) Both A and R are true and R is not the correct explanation of A.
c) A is true but R is false.
d) A is false but R is true.

13 Assertion: Primary endosperm nucleus is diploid. 1

Reason: It is the product of double fertilisation.

14 Assertion:Ribosomal RNA is synthesized in the nucleus of the cell. 1

Reason: It is translated with the enzyme RNA polymerase III.

15 Assertion: Smoking can raise blood pressure and increase heart rate. 1
Reason: Nicotine stimulates adrenal glands to release adrenaline and nor-
adrenaline into the blood circulation, both of which raise blood pressure and
increase heart rate.

16 Assertion: PCR is a powerful technique to identify genetic disorders. 1

Reason: PCR can detect mutations in low amounts of DNA.

Section - B

17 Explain the process of hormonal regulation of spermatogenesis. 2

The diagram below shows the sequence of amino acids in part of a haemoglobin
18 2
molecule.

4
 a) If the base T* was substituted with A, how would it affect the haemoglobin
chain?
b) Name the condition and the effects associated with the above substitution.

19 The graph given below indicates the administration of the first (L) and second dose 2
(M) of a vaccine. The corresponding response of the body is indicated by X and Y.
Interpret the graph and explain the reason for such a response shown by the
body.

20 The image below shows the result of plating bacteria in chromogenic medium after 2
incorporating the gene of interest in plasmid. Some plates had blue colonies; some
plates had white colonies. A single bacterium extracted from Plate I,II,III is shown
below:

On the basis of your observations

a) Identify the plate(s) which is/are white. Give a reason.
b) Identify the plate(s) which is/are blue. Give a reason.

5
21 Biomass of a standing crop of phytoplankton is 4 kg/m 2 which supports a large 2
standing crop of zooplankton having a biomass 11 kg/m 2. This is consumed by
small fishes having biomass 25 kg/m2 which are then consumed by large fishes with
the biomass 37 kg/m2.
Draw an ecological pyramid indicating the biomass at each stage and also name the
trophic levels. Mention whether it is an upright or inverted pyramid.
OR
Use the information provided in the table given below to answer the following
questions:

Tropic level Net Production(KJm-2y-1 ) Respiration (KJm-2y-1 )

Top Carnivore 50 35

Carnivores 420 378

Herbivores 4490 4041
Producers 45000 40,367

a) Calculate the gross primary productivity.

b) Analyze the trend in the Net Production from Producers to Top
Carnivore. Give a reason for your observation.

Section - C

22 The figure given below shows 3 sperms A, B and C. 3

a) Which one of the three sperms will gain entry into the ovum?
b) Describe the associated changes induced by it on P and Q.

6
23 Explain the phases in embryonic development from the morula stage till the 3
establishment of pregnancy in a human female.

24 A pregnant human female was advised to undergo MTP. It was diagnosed that the 3
fetus she was carrying had developed from a zygote having 45 chromosomes with
only one X chromosome.
a) What is this condition called and how does it arise?
b) Why was she advised to undergo MTP?

25 The graphs below show three types of natural selection. The shaded areas 3
marked with arrows show the individuals in the population which are not
selected. The dotted vertical lines show the statistical means.

a) What names are given to the types of selection shown in graphs A, B

and C.
b) After the selection has operated for several generations in the above
populations indicated as Graph A, B and C, graphically illustrate the probable
results.

The aeration tank of a sewage treatment plant is not functioning properly. Explain
26 3
in detail the impact of this on the treatment of sewage and BOD of the effluent.

A farmer grew 2 varieties of corn crop in field A and B. He grew normal corn
27 3
crops in field A and GM corn crops in field B. He observed corn borers attacked
only in field A. To control it, spores of Bt were sprayed in field A.
a) Name the gene in the spores responsible for the control of this pest.
b) What effect will the spores of Bt have on the insect pest?
c) How has field B developed resistance against this pest?

OR
Lipoprotein lipase deficiency (LPLD)is a genetic disorder in which a person has a
defective gene for lipase. This leads to high triglycerides, stomach pain, fat
deposits under the skin. It may eventually affect the liver, pancreas and may also
cause diabetes. The disorder occurs if a child acquires defective genes from both

7
 parents (autosomal recessive). ERT (enzyme replacement treatment) is one of the
treatments offered to patients with LPLD.
a) (i) What procedure is followed in ERT?
(ii) What could be one possible drawback of ERT?
b) How can LPLD be treated using Biotechnology? Elaborate.

28 Give three reasons as to why the prokaryotes are not given any figures for their 3
diversity by the ecologists.

Section - D

Q. No. 29 and 30 are case-based questions. Each question has 3 subparts with internal choice in one
subpart.

29 4
The structure below shows pUC18 which is similar to pBR322 in its function.
However, they differ in some of their restriction sites and number of ori. The ori
number for pBR322 is approximately 20.

a) How are puc18 and pBR322 used in biotechnological studies?

OR
What will be the impact if oriin the above structure gets damaged?

b) The lac z gene has many recognition sites. Study the segment of DNA
given below and answer the questions
5’... ATC GTA AAG CTT CAT…3’
3’... TAG CAT TTC GAA GTA…5’
i) Applying your knowledge of palindrome sequences identify and mark
the possible region where the restriction enzyme X will act.
ii) Restriction enzyme Y was used to extract gene of interest from a plant.
This gene needs to be inserted in the given DNA segment which has
been treated with restriction enzyme X. Will there be a successful
recombination? Explain with a reason.
c) Which one of the two (pUC18 and pBR322) would you prefer for
biotechnological studies? Justify.

8
 Observe the graph given below.
30 4
The graph represents inter-specific interaction between two species of Paramecia
competing for the same resource in a culture medium. Paramecium caudatum and
Paramecium aurelia were grown in separate cultures as well as in mixed cultures. It
was found that each species grew in numbers according to the logistic equation.

a) Which species is competitively superior? Support it with the data provided in

the graph.
b) State the underlying principle for the above result and name the scientist
associated with this principle.
c) Explain the mechanism in which two or more species competing with each
other can co - exist.
OR
Graphs A and B shown below depict interaction of two species. Which graph
indicates Mutualism? Give reason.

9
 Section - E

31 Placed below are case studies of some couples who were not able to have 5
kids. These couples are not ready for adoption or taking gametes from
donors. After thoroughly examining the cases, which Assisted
Reproductive Technology will you suggest to these couples as a medical
expert? Explain briefly with justification of each case.

Couple Test reports of Female Test reports of male partner

partner

Couple 1 Normal reports Normal sperms in testes,

Missing connection in
epididymis and Vas deferens

Couple 2 Blockage in the fallopian Normal reports

tube

Couple 3 Normal reports Poor semen parameters in

terms of count, motility and
morphology

Couple 4 low ovarian reserve Normal reports

Couple 5 Sterilization in male Morphologically abnormal

sperms

OR
Given below are certain situations. Analyse the situation and suggest the
name of suitable contraceptive device along with mode of action.

Situation Requirement of contraceptive Name of Mode of

for - contraceptive action
device

1 blocking the entry of sperms

through cervix

2 spacing between children

3 effective emergency
contraceptive

4 terminal method to prevent any

more pregnancy in female

5 sterilization in male

10
 Given below is a stretch of DNA showing the coding strand of a
32 5
structural gene of a transcription unit?
5’--ATG ACC GTA TTT TCT GTA GTG CCC GTA CTT CAG GCA
TAA—3’
a) Write the corresponding template strand and the mRNA strand that
will be transcribed, along with its polarity.
b) If GUA of the transcribed mRNA is an intron, depict the sequence
involved in the formation of mRNA /the mature processed hnRNA
strand.
i. In a bacterium
ii. In humans
c) Upon translation, how many amino acids will the resulting polypeptide
have? Justify.
OR
In shorthorn cattle, the coat colours red or white are controlled by a
single pair of alleles. A calf which receives the allele for red coat from its
mother and the allele for white coat from its father is called a 'roan'. It has
an equal number of red and white hairs in its coat.
a) Is this an example of codominance or of incomplete dominance?
b) Give a reason for your answer.
c) With the help of genetic cross explain what will be the consequent
phenotype of the calf when
i. red is dominant over white
ii. red is incompletely dominant.

Explain the role of Primary and Secondary Lymphoid organs with the help
33 5
of suitable examples.
OR
With the help of a flow chart illustrate how an infected animal cell can
survive while viruses are being replicated or released.

*********

11