- Mendel used the scientific approach to identify two laws of inheritance.
- Probability laws govern Mendelian inheritance.
- Inheritance patterns are often more complex than predicted by simple Mendelian genetics.
- Many human traits follow Mendelian patterns of inheritance.
- One reason that Mendel probably chose to work with peas is that they are available in many variations. A heritable feature that varies among individuals is called a character. Each variant for a characteristic is termed a trait.
- Other advantages of using peas are their short generation time and the large number of offspring from each mating.
- Each pea flower has both pollen-producing organs (stamens) and an egg-bearing organ (carpel).
- In nature, pea plants usually self-fertilize, but Mendel achieved cross-pollination of two plants by removing stamens from one plant and transferring pollen from another plant to the first plant.
- Mendel chose to track only those characters that occurred in 2 distinct, alternative forms as can be seen in Table 11.1 (next page).
- Mendel made sure that he started all of his experiments with varieties that, over many generations of self-pollination, had produced only the same variety as the parent plant. Such plants are said to be true-breeding.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of patterns of inheritance worksheet.
