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Topic 17 of 21 · 5 modules planned

Inheritance

Chromosomes, genes and proteins, cell division and how characteristics are inherited.

Modules

  1. Module 1 · syllabus 17.1

    Chromosomes, genes and alleles

    What is written in your chromosomes?

    This module is planned. It will have readings, an experiment, practice with self-checks and a final check.

Syllabus statements for this topic · for teachers · 37 statements

Core for every pupil · Supplement also for Extended entry. Paraphrased from the Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus (2026–2028); check the official syllabus for exact wording.

17.1 Chromosomes, genes and proteins

  • 17.1.1Chromosomes, DNA and genesC
  • 17.1.2Gene: DNA coding for a proteinC
  • 17.1.3Allele: alternative form of a geneC
  • 17.1.4Inheritance of sex with X and YC
  • 17.1.5Base sequence sets amino acid sequenceS
  • 17.1.6Amino acid sequence sets protein shapeS
  • 17.1.7DNA controls cells through the proteins madeS
  • 17.1.8Protein synthesis: mRNA and ribosomesS
  • 17.1.9Cells express only the genes they needS
  • 17.1.10Haploid nucleus: one chromosome setS
  • 17.1.11Diploid nucleus: two chromosome setsS
  • 17.1.12Chromosome pairs; 23 pairs in humansS

17.2 Mitosis

  • 17.2.1Mitosis gives genetically identical cellsS
  • 17.2.2Roles of mitosisS
  • 17.2.3Chromosomes copied before mitosisS
  • 17.2.4Chromosome number kept in daughter cellsS
  • 17.2.5Stem cells divide and specialiseS

17.3 Meiosis

  • 17.3.1Meiosis produces gametesS
  • 17.3.2Meiosis halves chromosome number; varied cellsS

17.4 Monohybrid inheritance

  • 17.4.1Inheritance across generationsC
  • 17.4.2GenotypeC
  • 17.4.3PhenotypeC
  • 17.4.4HomozygousC
  • 17.4.5Identical homozygous parents breed trueC
  • 17.4.6HeterozygousC
  • 17.4.7Heterozygotes are not pure-breedingC
  • 17.4.8Dominant alleleC
  • 17.4.9Recessive alleleC
  • 17.4.10Interpret pedigree diagramsC
  • 17.4.11Monohybrid crosses: 1:1 and 3:1 ratiosC
  • 17.4.12Punnett squares for possible genotypesC
  • 17.4.13Test cross to find an unknown genotypeS
  • 17.4.14CodominanceS
  • 17.4.15Inheritance of ABO blood groupsS
  • 17.4.16Sex-linked characteristicsS
  • 17.4.17Red-green colour blindness as sex linkageS
  • 17.4.18Crosses with codominance or sex linkageS