Q2 Page 147 - Chapter 9 Class 10 - Heredity and Evolution

How do Mendel’s experiments show that traits are inherited independently?

Answer:

Mendel considered 2 different characteristics of pea plants and analysed the offspring produced.

This is known as a dihybrid cross- the cross of F ₁ generation offspring which have forms of two different traits.

Let us consider Seed Shape and Seed Colour .

• Here - Round and Yellow are dominant traits.

            Wrinkled and Green are recessive traits.

• As observed in the previous example, the F ₁ generation shows dominant traits only - Yellow and Round.
• But the F ₂ generation shows different traits :
• Yellow and Round seeds 
• Green and Round seeds
• Yellow and Wrinkled seeds
• Green and Wrinkled seeds

•  We notice combinations in offspring that were not seen in the parents .
• Hence, in the case of Dihybrid cross, the traits are inherited independently .