Question

Why is it important that mendel began with purebred plants?

Answer 1

Mendel began with purebred plants to ensure consistent genetic backgrounds, which was essential for accurately studying inheritance patterns, leading to the establishment of Mendelian genetics.

Step-by-step explanation:

It is important that Gregor Mendel began with purebred plants because this ensured that the plants had consistent genetic backgrounds, which is critical for studying inheritance patterns. Mendel's use of true-breeding pea plants, which produce offspring that are identical to the parent, allowed him to clearly determine how traits were transmitted from one generation to the next. By starting with purebreds, Mendel avoided the complications that could arise from genetic variations and thus was able to establish the foundational principles of Mendelian genetics.

His choice of pea plants was fortunate because they naturally self-fertilize, develop quickly, and can produce large numbers of offspring in a single growing season, enabling Mendel to perform multiple generations of experiments in a relatively short time. Moreover, by cultivating large quantities, Mendel could be confident that his results were due to the inheritance patterns he was observing, not just random chance.

Answer 2

It was important that Mendel began with Purebred plants because this was crucial in comparing results throughout his experiments. Purebred plants have the same traits every time, so it was important to be able to tell if his results were from his crosses.