Question

Mendel crossed a tall pea plant with a short pea plant. All the offspring in the first generation were tall pea plants.

How did Mendel explain why all the offspring were tall pea plants?

a. The offspring may have tall or short plants. Mendel did not do enough trials.

b. Two factors affect the height trait of pea plants. One of the factors is dominant over the other.

c. The genes for determining short plants were not transferred to the offspring.

Answer 1

Answer: b). Two factors affect the height trait of pea plants. One of the factors is dominant over the other.

Explanation: All the offsprings are tall because each of them inherited one gene for tallness and one gene for shortness. The gene for tallness is dominant over the gene for shortness, and so the gene for tallness is able to express itself in the presence of the recessive gene for shortness.

See the attached punnet square for more information.