Mendel used pea plants to study what?
Mendel used pea plants to study the principles of heredity and how traits are inherited from one generation to another
Mendel used pea plants to study the principles of heredity and how traits are inherited from one generation to another. His work laid the foundation for the modern understanding of genetics. In particular, he focused on seven distinct characteristics of pea plants, such as flower color, seed shape, and seed coat color, which can be easily observed and controlled for experimental purposes.
Mendel meticulously crossed different varieties of pea plants, carefully recording the traits that appeared in the offspring. Through his experiments, he discovered the principles of dominance, recessiveness, segregation, and independent assortment.
The principle of dominance states that some traits are dominant over others, meaning that they will be expressed in the offspring even if only one parent carries the dominant allele. On the other hand, recessive traits are only expressed if both parents contribute the recessive allele.
Mendel also observed the segregation of alleles during the formation of sex cells. Each individual carries two alleles for a given trait, but only one allele is passed on to the offspring. Through the process of meiosis, the two alleles segregate and end up in separate sex cells, ensuring genetic diversity in the offspring.
Additionally, Mendel discovered that different traits are inherited independently of each other, known as independent assortment. This is due to the random orientation of homologous chromosomes during meiosis, leading to the shuffling and recombination of genetic material.
Mendel’s experiments with pea plants provided the quantitative data and conclusions that formed the basis of his laws of inheritance. His work revolutionized the understanding of inherited traits, and his principles still serve as the cornerstone of modern genetics.
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