Final answer:
Every plant, as a diploid organism, has two copies of the gene for each characteristic, called alleles. The correct answer is (a) Two, alleles. This inheritance pattern was first identified by Mendel and is essential for biological diversity. The correct option is a) Two, alleles
Step-by-step explanation:
Every plant, being a diploid organism, has two copies of the gene for each characteristic. These copies are known as alleles. So the correct answer to the question is (a) Two, alleles. In the context of genetics, Mendel's experiments with pea plants revealed that organisms inherit two alleles for each characteristic, one from each parent.
These alleles reside on homologous chromosomes and through the process of meiosis, they are separated into gametes. Each gamete contains one allele for each gene, which upon fertilization, unite to restore two alleles in the resulting diploid zygote. This genetic mechanism provides the basis for inheritance and explains the diverse combinations of traits observed in offspring. The correct option is a) Two, alleles