Question

Our model for how dna is passed on from parent to offspring in sexually reproducing organisms assumes?

1) That dna is only passed on from the mother to the offspring
2) That dna is only passed on from the father to the offspring
3) That dna is passed on from both the mother and the father to the offspring
4) That dna is not passed on from either the mother or the father to the offspring

Answer 1

In sexually reproducing organisms,3. DNA is inherited from both the mother and the father. This genetic exchange ensures the inheritance of characteristics from both parents and contributes to genetic diversity.

Step-by-step explanation:

Our model for how DNA is passed on from parent to offspring in sexually reproducing organisms assumes that DNA is passed on from both the mother and the father to the offspring. This process provides the genetic basis for offspring to inherit characteristics from both parents. Sexually reproducing organisms, like humans, have two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent. Each set contains one allele for each gene. During sexual reproduction, the union of the paternal and maternal gametes combines their genetic information to form the genome of the offspring, thereby ensuring genetic diversity.

In the context of sex chromosomes, mothers pass only X chromosomes to their offspring, while fathers can pass an X or a Y chromosome, thereby determining the sex of the offspring. Inheritance patterns adhere to the principles established by Mendel's laws of inheritance, which explain how genes are passed from parents to offspring via chromosomes.

It's important to highlight that asexual reproduction is distinct from sexual reproduction and involves a single parent. However, such organisms are not the focus of this question since we are considering the inheritance model in sexually reproducing organisms like humans.