Like Father, Like Daughter — Class 5 EVS (CBSE)
Based on the NCERT Looking Around Grade 5 textbook. Discover why family members look alike, then solve the practice set.
1. Why this chapter matters
Why do you look like your parents? Why do you have similar features to your brothers and sisters? Why do some traits skip a generation? This chapter introduces the concept of heredity — the passing of traits from parents to children. Students observe family resemblances, learn about inherited and acquired traits, and are introduced to Gregor Mendel, the father of genetics. This builds a foundation for understanding biology and evolution.
2. What is heredity?
Heredity is the passing of characteristics from parents to their children. These characteristics are called traits.
Examples of inherited traits
- Eye colour (brown, blue, green)
- Hair colour and texture (straight, curly, wavy)
- Skin colour
- Height (tall or short)
- Face shape (round, oval)
- Earlobe shape (attached or free)
- Ability to roll your tongue
- Dimples on cheeks
Examples of acquired traits
- Language spoken
- Skills learned (cycling, swimming, reading)
- Knowledge and education
- Habits and behaviour
- Likes and dislikes
Inherited traits come from genes. Acquired traits come from experience and learning.
3. Observing family traits
Activity
Make a table comparing your features with your parents' and siblings':
| Trait | You | Father | Mother | Sister/Brother |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eye colour | Brown | Brown | Blue | Brown |
| Hair type | Curly | Straight | Curly | Straight |
| Tongue roll | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Dimples | Yes | No | Yes | No |
You will notice that you share some traits with your father, some with your mother, and some with both. This mix of traits comes from both parents.
4. How traits are passed
Traits are passed through genes. Genes are tiny units of heredity found inside every cell of our body. They come in pairs — one from the mother and one from the father.
| Concept | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Gene | A unit of heredity that controls a specific trait |
| Chromosome | A thread-like structure carrying genes (in the cell nucleus) |
| DNA | The chemical that makes up genes |
| Dominant trait | A trait that shows even if only one parent passes it (e.g., brown eyes) |
| Recessive trait | A trait that shows only if both parents pass it (e.g., blue eyes) |
Simple example: dominant and recessive
- 'Free earlobe' is dominant over 'attached earlobe'.
- If you inherit a 'free earlobe' gene from one parent and an 'attached earlobe' gene from the other, you will have free earlobes.
- You would need 'attached earlobe' genes from BOTH parents to have attached earlobes.
5. Gregor Mendel — the father of genetics
Gregor Mendel (1822-1884) was an Austrian monk who discovered the basic rules of heredity. He experimented with pea plants in his monastery garden.
What Mendel did
- He grew thousands of pea plants.
- He studied seven traits: seed shape, seed colour, pod shape, pod colour, flower colour, flower position, plant height.
- He cross-bred plants with different traits.
- He counted the results carefully.
What he discovered
- Traits are passed in pairs (one from each parent).
- Some traits are dominant (they show more easily).
- Some traits are recessive (they hide unless paired together).
- His work was ignored during his lifetime but became famous later.
Why pea plants?
- They grow quickly.
- They have clearly visible traits.
- They can self-pollinate or be cross-pollinated.
- They produce many offspring.
6. Like father, like daughter — but not exactly
Children are like their parents, but not identical. Every child gets half their genes from their mother and half from their father. This creates a unique combination.
| Feature | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Similarity to parents | Because you get genes from both |
| Difference from parents | Because the combination is unique |
| Siblings are similar but not identical | Different combinations of the same genes |
| Twins | Identical twins share the same genes. Fraternal twins are like normal siblings. |
7. Activity corner
Activity 1: Make a family tree. Collect photos of your parents, grandparents, siblings, and yourself. Note which physical traits are common across generations.
Activity 2: In class, find out how many students can roll their tongues. How many have dimples? How many have attached earlobes? Make a bar graph.
Activity 3: Read about Gregor Mendel. Draw a pea plant and label the seven traits he studied.
8. Common mistakes
- Mistake: Thinking all traits are inherited Fix: Some traits are inherited (eye colour, hair type). Others are acquired (language, skills).
- Mistake: Believing children always look like their parents Fix: Children get a mix of genes from both parents. They may look like one parent, both, or neither in some features.
- Mistake: Thinking acquired traits can be passed to children Fix: If you learn to ride a bike, your children are not born knowing how to ride. Only genetic traits are inherited.
9. Key facts
- Heredity: passing of traits from parents to children.
- Traits can be inherited (eye colour, hair type) or acquired (skills, language).
- Genes carry hereditary information. They come in pairs — one from each parent.
- Dominant traits show with one copy. Recessive traits need two copies.
- Gregor Mendel (1822-1884): discovered the rules of heredity using pea plants.
- Children are similar to parents but not identical — each combination is unique.
10. Self-test
- What is heredity?
- Give one example of an inherited trait and one example of an acquired trait.
- Who is Gregor Mendel?
- Why did Mendel use pea plants for his experiments?
- Why do children look like their parents but are not identical?
11. Answer key
-
What is heredity? Answer: The passing of characteristics (traits) from parents to their children through genes.
-
Give one example of an inherited trait and one example of an acquired trait. Answer: Inherited: eye colour, hair type, height. Acquired: language, cycling, reading.
-
Who is Gregor Mendel? Answer: An Austrian monk who discovered the basic rules of heredity by experimenting with pea plants.
-
Why did Mendel use pea plants for his experiments? Answer: Pea plants grow quickly, have clearly visible traits, can self-pollinate, and produce many offspring.
-
Why do children look like their parents but are not identical? Answer: Children get half their genes from each parent. The unique combination makes them similar but not identical.
12. Quick revision
- Heredity = passing traits from parents to children.
- Inherited traits: eye colour, hair, height. Acquired: skills, language.
- Genes carry hereditary information.
- Dominant trait shows with one copy. Recessive needs two.
- Gregor Mendel: father of genetics, pea plant experiments.
- Children are a unique mix of both parents' traits.
- Observe family resemblances and celebrate what makes you unique.
- Genetics explains why every person is special.
