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Question

A world chess champion has curly hair, attached earlobes and freckles. Which one of the following traits is not likely to be passed on to his/her offsprings ?

This question was previously asked in
CDS 2 2026 Maths Question Paper (13-Sep-2026)
The correct answer is
Chess skills

Heredity: Traits Passed to Offspring

This question distinguishes between traits that are genetically inherited and skills that are acquired.

Understanding Inheritance

  • Inherited traits are passed down from parents to offspring through genes. These are typically physical characteristics.
  • Learned skills are acquired through experience, practice, and education. They are not determined by genes.

Analyzing the Traits

  • Chess skills are an acquired ability, developed through learning and practice. They are not encoded in DNA.
  • Curly hair is a physical trait determined by genetics and is heritable.
  • Attached earlobes are a physical trait determined by genetics and are heritable.
  • Freckles are influenced by genetics (melanin production) and environmental factors (sun exposure), but the tendency to have them is generally considered heritable.

Conclusion

Among the options, only chess skills represent an acquired trait. Physical characteristics like curly hair, attached earlobes, and the tendency for freckles are generally passed down genetically. Therefore, chess skills are not likely to be passed on to offspring through heredity.

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Important Questions from Heredity and Evolution

  1. At present, scientists can determine the arrangement or relative positions of genes or DNA sequences on a chromosome. How does this knowledge benefit us? 

    1) It is possible to know the pedigree of livestock. 

    2) It is possible to understand the causes of all human diseases. 

    3) It is possible to develop disease-resistant animal breeds. 

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  2. Polyploidy arises due to change in the

  3. The number of chromosomes become half in a daughter cell by the process of:

  4. What are the different forms of a gene called?
  5. Every trait in an organism is influenced by which of the following?

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