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inherit
Definition
Inherit means to receive something from someone else, usually a parent or grandparent. In the context of genetics, inheritance means receiving genes from parents.
Genes are the basic units of inheritance. They are made up of DNA, which is a molecule that contains the instructions for building proteins. Proteins are the building blocks of cells, and they determine how cells function.
When a sperm cell fertilises an egg cell, the two cells combine their DNA to create a new individual. This new individual will inherit half of its DNA from each parent.
The genes that an individual inherits will determine their physical traits, such as hair colour, eye colour, and height. They will also determine their behavioural traits, such as intelligence and personality.
Inheritance is a complex process, but it is essential for life. It is how traits are passed down from generation to generation, and it is how new traits can evolve.
How can the word be used?
The trait of blue eyes is inherited from parents.
Different forms of the word
Verb: Inherit means to receive something, such as property or money, from someone who has died.
Noun: An inheritance is something that is inherited, such as property or money.
Adjective: Inherited means received from someone who has died. For example, an inherited trait is a trait that is passed down from one generation to the next.
Etymology
The word "inherit" comes from the Latin word "hereditare", which means "to receive as an inheritance". This is a very accurate description of the meaning of the word "inherit", as it refers to the act of receiving something from someone who has died.
Question
What does inherit mean?
AQA Science Exam Question and Answer
Question:
Explain the process of genetic inheritance and the role of genes in passing on traits from parents to offspring, detailing how dominant and recessive alleles interact to determine an individual's phenotype, and discuss the significance of inheritance patterns in understanding genetic diversity within populations.
Answer:
Genetic inheritance is the transmission of genetic information from parents to their offspring. This process involves the inheritance of alleles, different forms of a gene, which play a crucial role in determining an individual's traits or characteristics.
Alleles can be dominant or recessive. Dominant alleles express their traits even if only one copy is present in the genotype, while recessive alleles are expressed only when two copies are present. When offspring inherit two different alleles for a trait (heterozygous), the dominant allele typically masks the expression of the recessive allele.
The interaction of alleles determines an individual's phenotype, the observable traits. For instance, if a person inherits a dominant allele for brown eyes and a recessive allele for blue eyes, they will have brown eyes, as the dominant allele prevails.
Understanding inheritance patterns is vital for comprehending genetic diversity within populations. The combination of alleles in sexual reproduction generates unique genetic profiles in each offspring. This diversity is crucial for a species' adaptability to changing environments and plays a role in evolution.
In summary, genetic inheritance involves the transfer of alleles from parents to offspring, influencing an individual's traits. Dominant and recessive alleles interact to determine phenotypes, contributing to genetic diversity within populations and playing a fundamental role in the mechanisms of evolution.