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Q.Describe the chromosomal theory of Inheritance. Distinguish between Incomplete dominance and Co-dominance.

West Bengal WbchseWest Bengal HS (WBCHSE) Board 2019Subjective· 5mImportance★★★★★
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Sutton & Boveri's chromosomal theory says genes lie on chromosomes and chromosome behaviour in meiosis explains Mendel's laws. Incomplete dominance gives a blended intermediate heterozygote; co-dominance shows both alleles fully expressed together.

Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance (Sutton and Boveri, 1902):

  • Walter Sutton and Theodor Boveri noted that the behaviour of chromosomes during meiosis exactly parallels the behaviour of Mendel's factors (genes). On this basis they proposed that genes are carried on chromosomes. Its main points:
    1. Chromosomes and genes both occur in pairs; the two alleles of a gene are on homologous chromosomes.
    2. During meiosis, the paired homologous chromosomes segregate and pass into different gametes — this explains Mendel's Law of Segregation.
    3. Different pairs of chromosomes assort independently at metaphase-I — this explains the Law of Independent Assortment.
    4. Fertilisation restores the paired (diploid) condition, one set from each parent.
  • Thus chromosomes are the physical carriers of heredity. (T.H. Morgan's work on Drosophila later experimentally confirmed this theory.)

Distinction — Incomplete Dominance vs Co-dominance:

FeatureIncomplete dominanceCo-dominance
Expression in heterozygoteNeither allele fully dominant; a blended, intermediate phenotype appearsBoth alleles express fully and independently; both phenotypes appear together
Nature of phenotypeNew intermediate character (a mixture)No mixing — both parental characters shown side by side
ExampleFlower colour in Mirabilis jalapa / snapdragon: Red (RR) × White (rr) → Pink (Rr)Human AB blood group: alleles Iᴬ and Iᴮ both expressed, so both A and B antigens are present

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