Question

How are traits passed on to the next generation?

Answer 1

Hint: Traits are mainly the genetic information that is present on the chromosomes of the cell. They are passed onto the next generation through these chromosomes only. When we talk about traits we generally refer to hair colour, height etc thus, which are usually inherited from our parents.

Complete answer:
Mendel's law of inheritance is significant in comprehending how characteristics or traits are genetically passed on from one generation to the another. Heredity or inheritance is the transmission of characters, resemblance as well as variation from one gene to another.
Every individual has 22 pairs of chromosomes, each of which comes from both mother as well as father. A pair of X- chromosomes are present in the female whereas the presence of X and Y chromosomes are determinants of the male characters. During spermatogenesis, among males, two types of gametes are produced. 50 per cent is from the male and the other 50 is from female. As male have 2 different chromosomes so the sex of the child wholely depends upon the chromosome being transfered from the father.
As we know genes are transferred from one person to another through the chromosomes. It is because they are present on them. We receive two copies of each gene from paternal and maternal side respectively and one pair of sex chromosomes from each parent to form up 46 chromosomes on the whole.
Traits are acquired through inheritance which can be determined by the rule of heredity. These traits are coded in our DNA and hence are usually passed on from one generation to another. Some traits are eye colour, hair colour, height etc. During cell division, the genetic information that is present in the chromosomes are transferred into the cell of the new individuals, thus passing down the traits to the next progeny.

Note:
Heredity refers to the genetic heritage that is passed down by our biological parents. Greogor Mendel, a monk and a botanist conducted an experiment in the 19th century. He did experiments on pea plants through which he discovered the laws by which genes are passed on from one generation to the other. These are known as Mendel's laws.