Final answer:
Based on a cross of tall and dwarf pea plants, the phenotypic ratios observed in the F1 and F2 generations align with Mendelian inheritance, specifically the Law of Segregation and the Law of Independent Assortment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Based on the data provided, we can conclude that the trait for plant height in pea plants follows Gregor Mendel's laws of inheritance. Specifically, Gregor Mendel's Law of Segregation states that the two alleles for a trait separate when gametes are formed. In the cross between a tall pea plant and a dwarf pea plant, the tall trait (T) is dominant over the dwarf trait (t). This is proved by the fact that all F1 offspring are tall, indicating that they have at least one dominant allele (T).
Moreover, in the F2 generation, the observed 3:1 tall-to-dwarf ratio suggests the F1 plants were all heterozygous (Tt) and when crossed (Tt x Tt), they produced offspring in a 3:1 ratio of dominant to recessive phenotypes, in line with Mendelian inheritance patterns. The Punnett square is a tool commonly used to predict these outcomes. When considering two traits, such as plant height and seed shape, a dihybrid cross would be expected to show a 9:3:3:1 phenotypic ratio, demonstrating Mendel's Law of Independent Assortment.