Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
Mendel believed that the characteristics of pea plants are determined by which of the following?
A
Environmental factors alone
B
Discrete units of inheritance (genes) passed from parents to offspring
C
Random mutations occurring during the plant's lifetime
D
Blending of parental traits in each generation
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the historical context: Gregor Mendel conducted experiments on pea plants to understand how traits are inherited from one generation to the next.
Recall Mendel's key conclusion: He proposed that traits are controlled by discrete units, which we now call genes, rather than by blending or environmental factors alone.
Recognize that Mendel's model contradicted the blending theory, which suggested offspring traits are a mix or blend of parental traits.
Note that Mendel's units of inheritance are passed unchanged from parents to offspring, explaining the consistent patterns of trait inheritance.
Therefore, the correct concept Mendel believed in is that characteristics are determined by discrete units of inheritance (genes) passed from parents to offspring.