Inheritance - Experiments by Mendel (GCSE Biology)

Experiments by Mendel

Mendel’s Experiments

Mendelian genetics forms the basis of our understanding of genetics. He carried out experiments breeding plants in the mid 19th century. He worked out the understanding of dominance in plants and monohybrid inheritance.

• Monohybrid inheritance is the way that single characteristics are passed on. Certain characteristics are controlled by only one gene. These characteristics are affected by monohybrid inheritance.
• Mendel described this. Mendel believed that ‘units’ were transferred from one organism to another. These units led to the transfer of characteristics.
• Mendel used pea plants to investigate this. He looked at the difference between smooth and wrinkled peas to work out which were dominant and recessive characteristics. This led to the understand that smooth peas were a dominant characteristics, whereas wrinkled peas were a recessive characteristic.

• Mendel’s experiments were only appreciated after his death. Over time, experiments worked out that Mendel’s units were in fact linked to chromosomes and they were actually the first understanding of what genes were. As Watson and Crick worked out the truth about DNA, we learnt more and more about Mendel’s theories and how they actually were pertinent to knowledge in the future.

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