Who gave the 'chromosomal theory of inheritance'?

The correct answer is Option (3) → Sutton and Boveri

Option (3) Sutton and Boveri — Correct. Walter Sutton and Theodor Boveri noticed that chromosomes behave in meiosis just as Mendel’s factors (genes) do. They united chromosome movement with Mendel’s principles in the chromosomal theory of inheritance.

Note: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2026 on 07-06-2026 (Slot 2), in CUET (UG) 2025 on 13-05-2025 (Slot 2), and in CUET (UG) 2023 on 08-06-2023 (Slot 3).

NCERT Extract:
Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance – “… In 1900, three Scientists (de Vries, Correns and von Tschermak) independently rediscovered Mendel’s results on the inheritance of characters. Also, by this time due to advancements in microscopy that were taking place, scientists were able to carefully observe cell division. This led to the discovery of structures in the nucleus that appeared to double and divide just before each cell division. These were called chromosomes (colored bodies, as they were visualised by staining). By 1902, the chromosome movement during meiosis had been worked out. Walter Sutton and Theodore Boveri noted that the behaviour of chromosomes was parallel to the behaviour of genes and used chromosome movement (Figure 4.8) to explain Mendel’s laws (Table 4.3).”