Final answer:
Pea plants are ideal for genetic studies because they grow quickly, have various visible traits with distinct forms, are easy to maintain, and exhibit true-breeding characteristics, allowing for precise observation of inheritance patterns.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pea plants (Pisum sativum) are considered an excellent choice for genetic studies for several reasons. They are fast-growing and easy to raise, which allows researchers to complete multiple experiments over a short period. They have a variety of visible characteristics that can differ, such as seed form and color, flower color, pod form, and placement of pods and flowers on stems. Each characteristic typically has two distinct forms, like being round or wrinkled, which makes observing inheritance patterns easier. Pea plants are also true-breeding, meaning that they produce offspring that reliably exhibit the same traits as the parent, enabling Mendel to predict and interpret trait inheritance more accurately. Large quantities of plants can be grown at once, which is ideal for examining genetic laws across many samples to avoid chance results.