The Work of Mendel

Question 1

Who was Gregor Mendel? What did he discover? Where?

Answer 1

He was an Austrian monk who trained in mathematics and natural history at the University of Vienna. On his garden plot at the monastery, Mendel noted how characteristics in plants were passed on from one generation to the next.

Question 2

In Mendel’s experiment what was the first cross? Results?

Answer 2

Crossed a tall pea plant and a dwarf pea plant.

Results were all tall pea plants

Question 3

In Mendel’s experiment what was the second cross? Results?

Answer 3

Two ea plants from the 1st set of offspring are crossed.

Result: three tall pea plants and one dwarf pea plant

Question 4

Draw both types of genetic diagram to show Mendel’s experment

Answer 4

See page 120

Question 5

What was Mendel’s conclusion from his pea plant experiment? (3)

Answer 5

1) Characteristics in plants are determined by ‘hereditary units’
2) Hereditary units are passed on from both parents, 1 from each
3) Hereditary units can be dominant or recessive - if an individual has both the dominant and the recessive unit for a characteristic, the dominant characteristic will be expressed

Question 6

What had Mendel shown in his experiment?

Answer 6

That the height characteristics in pea plants was determined by separately inherited ‘hereditary units’ passed on from each plant. The ratios of tall and dwarf plants in the offspring showed that the unit of tall plants (T) was dominant over the dwarf plats (t)

Question 7

What is the modern name for hereditary units?

Answer 7

Genes