Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance — NEET Biology
✅ Asked in NEET 2022The chromosomal theory of inheritance was proposed by: (NEET 2022)
The chromosomal theory of inheritance was proposed by: (NEET 2022)
Answer & NCERT explanation
Correct answer: C — Sutton and Boveri
Sutton and Boveri independently proposed the chromosomal theory of inheritance in 1902-1904, stating that genes are located on chromosomes and chromosomes are the physical basis of heredity. This theory connected Mendel's laws with chromosome behavior during meiosis. Morgan later provided experimental evidence for this theory.
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Sutton and Boveri argued that the pairing and separation of a pair of chromosomes would lead to the segregation of a pair of factors they carried. Sutton united the knowledge of chromosomal segregation with Mendelian principles and called it the chromosomal theory of inheritance.
Sutton and Boveri unified Mendelian genetics with cytology by proposing that genes are located on chromosomes; when chromosomes segregate during meiosis, the alleles they carry also segregate, explaining Mendel's observations at the molecular level. Students often confuse this theory with Mendel's laws themselves—remember, the chromosomal theory is the physical explanation for *why* Mendelian inheritance works, not Mendel's patterns. The key point NTA tests: chromosome pairs separating leads to factor (gene) separation. To avoid mistakes, link chromosome behavior directly to allele segregation, and recognize that Sutton connected two separate fields of biology that were previously unrelated.
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