Final answer:
Mendel's results on inheritance are seen differently today because we now realize that multiple genes can influence a trait, which leads to continuous variation rather than the discrete variation that Mendel observed in his pea plant experiments.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mendel's conclusions are viewed differently today because we now understand that multiple genes can influence a trait, which is known as continuous variation. This differs from Mendel's original findings which focused on traits that followed discrete or Mendelian patterns of inheritance. However, many characteristics observed in nature are the result of the interplay of numerous genes and can display a range of variations, which is not accounted for by simple Mendelian genetics alone.
In the past, the scientific community believed that traits were blended from parents to offspring, leading to intermediate characteristics, which seemed to make sense for traits with continuous variation. It was only after Mendel's work was rediscovered that the foundations for modern genetics were laid out. His findings on discrete trait inheritance paved the way to understanding the complexities of genetic inheritance, including the realization that non-Mendelian patterns often occur due to multiple genes influencing a single trait.