Fundamentals of Genetics: Gregor Mendel's Discoveries

Gregor Mendel, an Austrian monk, conducted experiments in the 1860s that laid the foundation for modern genetics. He is renowned for his work with pea plants, where he discovered how traits are inherited across generations. Mendel's experiments involved true-breeding plants, and he observed that when a tall plant was crossed with a short one, the first generation was all tall. However, in the second generation, the traits segregated, resulting in a 3:1 ratio of tall to short plants. This groundbreaking work revealed the principles of heredity.

Who is often called the father of modern genetics due to his groundbreaking experiments?

• Gregor Mendel

• Charles Darwin

• Isaac Newton

• Albert Einstein

What type of plants did Mendel use to ensure consistent trait inheritance in his experiments?

• Hybrid plants

• True breeders

• Genetically modified plants

• Wild plants

What was the result when Mendel crossed a true-breeding tall pea plant with a true-breeding short pea plant?

• Offspring showed a mix of heights

• All offspring were tall

• All offspring were short

• Half were tall, half were short

In Mendel's second generation of pea plants, what was the observed ratio of tall to short plants?

• 1:1

• 4:1

• 2:1

• 3:1

What question arises from the 3:1 ratio observed in Mendel's second generation of pea plants?

• Why were all plants short?

• Why were all plants tall?

• Why did the ratio of tall to short plants occur?

• Why did some plants not survive?