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The diagram shows the parts of a pea plant flower, similar to those used by Mendel in his experiments to investigate the inheritance of characteristics - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 29 - 2016 - Paper 1
Question 29
The diagram shows the parts of a pea plant flower, similar to those used by Mendel in his experiments to investigate the inheritance of characteristics. (a) Describ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The diagram shows the parts of a pea plant flower, similar to those used by Mendel in his experiments to investigate the inheritance of characteristics - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 29 - 2016 - Paper 1
Step 1
Describe TWO ways in which Mendel’s use of flower parts contributed to the success of his experiments.
Answer
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Control of Pollination: Mendel utilized the stamen and pistil of the pea flower to control pollination. By removing the anthers from a flower, he could prevent self-pollination and cross-pollinate flowers with desired traits. This careful control allowed him to isolate genetic variables.
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Clear Trait Observation: The distinct and easily observable traits of the pea plants, such as flower color and seed shape, facilitated Mendel's analysis. The flower parts enabled him to quantify and categorize these traits, leading to clearer results regarding inheritance patterns.
Step 2
How did Mendel’s experimental results advance our knowledge of the inheritance of characteristics?
Answer
Mendel's experiments contributed significantly to our understanding of genetics by establishing the key principles of inheritance. His results demonstrated that:
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Segregation of Alleles: Mendel formulated the Law of Segregation, indicating that alleles for a trait separate during gamete formation, leading to the possibility of offspring inheriting different combinations of traits.
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Independent Assortment: His findings also led to the Law of Independent Assortment, which states that the inheritance of one trait does not affect the inheritance of another, paving the way for understanding genetic variation.
These principles are fundamental to the field of genetics and laid the groundwork for modern genetic research.