Genetics in Action: Mendel's Work Reviewed

Gregor Mendel, an Austrian monk, laid the foundation for genetics through his experiments with pea plants in the 1860s. He proposed that traits are determined by two factors, now known as genes, which are inherited from each parent. These genes can exist in different forms called alleles. In pea plants, the allele for tallness is dominant over the allele for shortness, which is recessive. Mendel's groundbreaking concepts were not fully appreciated until the early 20th century.

How did Mendel's experiments with pea plants lead to the understanding of heredity?

What is the significance of Mendel's discoveries in the context of the 20th century?