Mendel's Experiment on Pea Plants

In his groundbreaking experiment, Gregor Mendel studied various traits of pea plants to understand the principles of inheritance. He focused on seven different characteristics, each of which had two contrasting traits. Therefore, Mendel studied a total of 21 pairs of contrasting characters in pea plants.

The Seven Characteristics Studied by Mendel

1. Flower Color: Mendel observed the color of pea plant flowers, which can be either purple or white.
2. Seed Color: He examined the color of pea seeds, which can be either yellow or green.
3. Seed Shape: Mendel studied the shape of pea seeds, which can be either round or wrinkled.
4. Seed Coat Color: He observed the color of the seed coat, which can be either gray or white.
5. Pod Color: Mendel examined the color of pea pods, which can be either yellow or green.
6. Pod Shape: He studied the shape of pea pods, which can be either inflated or constricted.
7. Flower Position: Mendel observed the position of flowers on the stem, which can be either axial or terminal.

Contrasting Traits of the Studied Characteristics
- For flower color, the contrasting traits were purple and white.
- The seed color had the traits of yellow and green.
- Seed shape exhibited the traits of round and wrinkled.
- Seed coat color had gray and white traits.
- Pod color showed yellow and green traits.
- The pod shape had inflated and constricted traits.
- Flower position had axial and terminal traits.

Significance of Mendel's Experiment
Mendel's experiment laid the foundation for modern genetics and helped establish the principles of inheritance. By studying these contrasting traits, Mendel discovered the existence of dominant and recessive alleles, and he formulated the laws of segregation and independent assortment.

Mendel meticulously cross-pollinated the pea plants to control the mating process and ensure accurate observations. He observed the traits in the offspring and analyzed the ratios to deduce the patterns of inheritance. His experiments provided crucial insights into the inheritance of traits and paved the way for the field of genetics.

In conclusion, Mendel studied a total of 21 pairs of contrasting characters in pea plants, focusing on seven different characteristics. His experiments and observations revolutionized our understanding of inheritance and formed the basis of modern genetics.