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Hereditary characteristics

Explanation

Those characteristics of the living organisms which come into existence as a result of changes occurring in the DNA of the parental sex cells, are called hereditary characteristics.
The genes in the parental sex cells undergo changes and through the process of sexual reproduction altered genes are inherited in the offsprings. Such traits are expressed generation after generation.
Examples of hereditary characteristics:
(1) The skin colour, the colour of the iris of eyes, form of hair, etc. in human being.
(2) The height, colour and shape of the seeds, colour of flowers, location of flowers, etc. in the pea plant.
(3) In the population of red coloured beetles, green coloured beetle progeny are formed due to changes in DNA. This green colour of the beetle is a hereditary characteristic and it is transmitted in the subsequent generations.
Thus, the hereditary characteristics trait can direct evolution.