Principles of Inheritance and Variation NEET Previous Year Question Paper(PYQ)

Principles of Inheritance and Variation NEET Questions: With a 50% weightage for the Biology section, the National Entrance Test for Medical Colleges in India, NEET covers a broad range of 10 units, from cell structure and genetics to reproduction and ecology. A strong mastery of biology guarantees good scores and also provides the groundwork for a career in medicine and research.

NEET 2025: Biology: Mind Maps & Important Diagrams | Crack NEET in 2 months

NEET 2025: Syllabus | Most Scoring concepts | NEET PYQ's (2015-24)

New: Meet Careers360 experts in your city and get guidance on shortlisting colleges

New Programme: B.E. Environmental & Sustainability @ BITS Pilani for PCB Candidates

This Story also Contains

1. Principles of Inheritance and Variation PYQ Analysis (2020-2024)
2. High Scoring Topics of Principles of Inheritance and Variation
3. Preparation Strategy For Principles of Inheritance and Variation NEET Questions
4. Common Mistakes in Preparing For Principles of Inheritance and Variation NEET Previous Year Question Paper
5. Principles of Inheritance and Variation NEET Previous Year Questions
6. Advantages of Practicing Principles of Inheritance and Variation NEET PYQs

Of the 10 units in the biology section of the NEET 2025 exam syllabus, Principles of Inheritance and Variation usually account for 6% of the total exam score weightage. The most repeated core concepts in the Principles of Inheritance and Variation are designed to help you focus your revision on high-yield topics that have appeared in the past 10 years question papers. Solving Principles of Inheritance and Variation NEET previous year question paper helps in understanding the exam pattern.

Principles of Inheritance and Variation PYQ Analysis (2020-2024)

• Marks Contribution: Approximately 8-12 marks in the NEET Biology paper.

• Number of Questions: Typically 2-3 questions per exam, with some questions integrating diagram-based or pedigree-oriented questions.

High Scoring Topics of Principles of Inheritance and Variation

Every year, 2-3 questions are consistently asked from Principles of Inheritance and Variation. Principles of Inheritance and Variation NEET PYQ focuses on oxidation and reduction reactions, oxidation and reduction numbers, kind of reactions and galvanic and electrolytic cells. The diagram-based questions are common as well.

Preparation Strategy For Principles of Inheritance and Variation NEET Questions

Below are ten important points for preparing Principles of Inheritance and Variation NEET questions:

1. Pay attention to learning Mendel's laws, genetic disorders, and patterns of inheritance to solve Principles of Inheritance and Variation NEET questions.

2. Practice Principles of Inheritance and Variation NEET questions from last year's papers to get used to the pattern and difficulty of the exam.

3. Practice Principles of Inheritance and Variation NEET PYQs consistently to build confidence and lower exam anxiety.

4. Identify and concentrate on commonly asked subjects in Principles of Inheritance and Variation NEET questions, including linkage and gene expression.

5. Practice a range of Principles of Inheritance and Variation NEET questions to enhance problem-solving and time-management skills.

6. Refer to NCERT notes as a basis for learning, as they include key concepts examined in Principles of Inheritance and Variation NEET pyq.

7. Use online platforms such as Careers360 for explanations and practice Principles of Inheritance and Variation NEET questions.

8. Compare your performance on Principles of Inheritance and Variation NEET questions to determine weak points and work on enhancing them.

9. Practice solving principles of inheritance and variation NEET pyq in a timed manner to optimize speed during the exam.

10. Practice principles of inheritance and variation NEET previous year question paper for rapid revision to ensure that you have mastered all major concepts before the exam.

Also Read

• NEET Physics Mock Test 2025

• NEET Physics chapter-wise weightage 2025

• How to prepare for NEET 2025 in 2 months

Common Mistakes in Preparing For Principles of Inheritance and Variation NEET Previous Year Question Paper

Some common mistakes students make while attempting NEET Principles of Inheritance and Variation questions:

1. Confusion in Mendelian Ratios: Students often mix up Mendelian ratios like 3:1, 9:3:3:1, and 1:2:1, leading to errors in solving inheritance problems. Misinterpreting test cross and back cross is another common mistake. Understanding the concept behind these ratios rather than just memorizing them can help in answering questions accurately.

2. Ignoring Non-Mendelian Inheritance: Many students focus only on Mendel’s laws and ignore topics like incomplete dominance, codominance, multiple alleles, and epistasis. However, NEET frequently asks about exceptions to Mendelian inheritance, especially blood group inheritance and coat colour genetics in animals.

3. Errors in Linkage and Recombination: Candidates often misinterpret Morgan’s experiment on linkage and recombination. Confusing crossing over with independent assortment and failing to calculate recombination frequency correctly can lead to wrong answers. Practising chromosome maps and numerical problems is essential to avoid these errors.

4. Difficulty in Pedigree Analysis: Many students struggle with interpreting pedigree charts, especially in identifying autosomal vs. sex-linked disorders. Misreading dominant and recessive traits can result in incorrect answers. A structured approach using flowcharts and practice questions can help in mastering pedigree analysis effectively.

Principles of Inheritance and Variation NEET Previous Year Questions

The topic of Principles of Inheritance and Variation is crucial for NEET aspirants, as it forms the basis for understanding genetics and heredity. This chapter is frequently tested in the NEET exam, making it essential to practice the Principles of Inheritance and Variation previous year's questions

Q1. In a plant, the black seed colour (BB/Bb) is dominant over the white seed colour (bb). To find out the genotype of the black seed plant, which of the following genotypes will you cross?

NEET 2024

Difficulty level: Medium

Chapter: Principles of Inheritance and Variation

Option 1: BB

Option 2: bb

Option 3: Bb

Option 4: BB/Bb

Solution:

In a test cross, an organism with an unknown genotype is mated with an organism with a known genotype to ascertain the genotype of the unknown organism. The test cross is said to have been created by Gregor Mendel. To determine the genotype of a black seed colour at F2, the black seed from F2 is crossed with the white seed colour. This is called a test cross. To determine the genotype of the black seed (BB/Bb), we need to cross them with the white seed (bb)

Hence, the correct answer is Option (2) b

Q2. Broad palm with single palm crease is visible in a person suffering from –

NEET 2023

Difficulty level: Medium

Chapter: Principles of Inheritance and Variation

Option 1: Down's syndrome

Option 2: Turner's syndrome

Option 3: Klinefelter's syndrome

Option 4: Thalassemia

Solution:

A broad palm with a single palm crease, also known as a simian crease or a single transverse palmar crease, is commonly seen in individuals with Down syndrome. Down syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21. This condition is characterized by various physical and intellectual disabilities, and certain physical features are often associated with it.

One of the common physical features observed in individuals with Down syndrome is a single transverse palmar crease, where the normal two creases in the palm fuse into one. This can give the appearance of a broad palm with a single crease extending across the palm.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option (1) Down syndrome.

Q3. Which of the following occurs due to the presence of an autosome-linked dominant trait?

NEET 2022

Difficulty level: Easy

Chapter: Principles of Inheritance and Variation

Option 1: Myotonic Dystrophy

Option 2: Haemophilia

Option 3: Thalassemia

Option 4: Sickle cell anaemia

Solution:

Hemophilia is a disorder in which blood doesn’t clot normally, and it is an X-linked recessive disorder.

Thalassemia is a blood disorder involving a lower-than-normal amount of an oxygen-carrying protein. It is an autosomal recessive disorder.

Sickle cell anaemia is a group of disorders that causes red blood cells to become misshapen and break down. It is an autosomal recessive disorder.

Myotonic dystrophy is an autosomal dominant disorder,i.e., it occurs due to the presence of an autosomal-linked dominant trail.

Hence, the correct answer is option 1) Myotonic dystrophy.

Q4. In a cross between a male and female both heterozygous for the sickle cell anaemia gene, what percentage of the progeny will be diseased?

NEET 2021

Difficulty level: Difficult

Chapter: Principles of Inheritance and Variation

Option 1: 50%

Option 2: 75%

Option 3: 25%

Option 4: 100%

Solution:

Autosomal recessive inheritance is the mode of inheritance for sickle cell disease. Thus, an individual has to inherit two copies of the mutated HBB gene- one from each parent- to be affected. This will affect about 25% of the offspring when both parents are carriers (sickle cell trait). Carriers have genotype AS and are usually asymptomatic but can pass the gene to their children.

Hence, the correct answer is Option 3) 25%

Q5. Experimental verification of the chromosomal theory of inheritance was done by:

NEET 2020

Difficulty level: Medium

Chapter: Principles of Inheritance and Variation

Option 1: Mendel

Option 2: Sutton

Option 3: Boveri

Option 4: Morgan

Solution:

The Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance, crucial in biology, establishes chromosomes as the carriers of genetic information responsible for Mendelian patterns of inheritance. This theory was founded on the works of Theodor Boveri and Walter Sutton. It aligns well with Mendel's laws and is bolstered by key observations:

1. Meiosis involves homologous chromosome pairs moving independently as distinct entities.
2. Parents create gametes with half their chromosome count.
3. Despite differences in size and shape, sperm and egg chromosomes are equal in number, indicating equal genetic input.
4. Upon fertilization, gametic chromosomes unite to form offspring with a chromosome count matching their parents.

Hence, the correct answer is option 4) Morgan

Advantages of Practicing Principles of Inheritance and Variation NEET PYQs

1. Practising NEET PYQs on Principles of Inheritance and Variation increases confidence in complex genetics questions.

2. Understanding the exam pattern through NEET PYQs reduces stress and improves focus.

3. Regular practice of principles of inheritance and variation NEET previous year question paper improves efficiency in solving questions within the time limit.

Also Read:

• Do or Die Chapters for NEET 2025

• High Weightage Chapters for NEET 2025

• Best study Material for NEET 2025