What is Heredity?

Heredity is the transmission of qualities from parents to offspring via their genes. It is the foundation for inherited features that are passed down from generation to generation, such as eye colour, hair colour, and height.

Genes are hereditary information units that are passed down from parent to kid during the process of reproduction. Each individual receives two copies of each gene, one from their mother and the other from their father. These genes contain the instructions for the development and function of an individual’s cells, tissues, and organs.

Heredity plays a significant role in determining an individual’s physical and behavioural characteristics, as well as their susceptibility to certain diseases and conditions. However, it is important to note that heredity is only one factor that influences a person’s characteristics and health. Environmental factors, such as diet and lifestyle, can also play a role.

Genes determine hereditary features, and a single gene might have several versions known as alleles. Each gene in our cells has two copies (with the exception of genes located on sex chromosomes). One copy originates from the sperm, and the other from the egg. These two copies (or alleles) are not always identical in an individual. If the two copies of a gene are identical, the individual is said to be homozygous for that gene. The gene is heterozygous if the two copies vary.

The genotype of an organism is the collection of genes that an offspring gets from both parents, which is a combination of each parent’s genetic material. The genotype is contrasted with the phenotype, which is the organism’s outer appearance and the product of its genes’ development.