Question

1. Explain how Mendel was able to disprove what most people during his time believed about inheritance (specifically, that traits of parents blended in the offspring). Include an explanation of Mendel’s findings about genes and alleles.

Answer 1

Mendel followed the inheritance of 7 traits in pea plants (Pisum sativum). He chose traits that had 2 forms:

Pea shape (round or wrinkled)

Pea colour (yellow or green)

Flower colour (purple or white)

Flower position (terminal or axial)

Plant height (tall or short)

Pod shape (inflated or constricted)

Pod colour (yellow or green).

Mendel began with pure-breeding pea plants because they always produced progeny with the same characteristics as the parent plant. Mendel cross-bred these pea plants and recorded the traits of their progeny over several generations.