Question

Describe an ancient hypothesis that explains how traits are passed from parents to offspring. What is the modern concept that contradicts this hypothesis?

Answer 1

In its ancient usage, hypothesis referred to a summary of the plot of a classical drama.

Explanation:

Ancient Hypothesis:

• The term hypothesis originally applied to a synopsis of a classical drama's storyline.
• The English word hypothesis is derived from the ancient Greek word hypothesis, which means "putting or setting under" in its literal or etymological sense and, as a result, has numerous other connotations in modern usage, including "supposition."

Parents to offspring:

• Mendel's theory of heredity is the name given to these hypotheses. The theories explain a simple kind of inheritance in which two alleles of a gene are passed down to offspring, resulting in one of several features.
• Mendel's allele hypothesis disproved the blending inheritance idea.

Concept that contradicts this hypothesis

• These discoveries led to the development of the modern cell theory, which includes three major additions: first, that DNA is passed between cells during cell division; second, that the cells of all organisms within a similar species are structurally and chemically similar; and third, that energy flow occurs within cells.

Answer 2

These hypotheses are known as Mendel's genetic theory. The hypothesis describes a simple form of inheritance in which two alleles of a gene are inherited, producing one of several traits in the offspring.

Explanations

• The modern cell theory states that cells are the basic structural, functional, and organizational units of both unicellular and multicellular organisms.  

• Cells divide to convey genetic information.  

• Energy flows inside the cell.  

• DNA is a genetic chemical found on the chromosomes of our cells.  

• The instructions provided by DNA are used to synthesize the various proteins that the body needs to function optimally.  

• The individual sections of DNA are called genes. The gene is inherited by the offspring from their parents.