Unlocking the Secrets of Inheritance: From Gregor Mendel to Modern Genetics

🔬Gregor Mendel's work on pea plants in the 1800s led to the discovery of the fundamental laws of inheritance.

🧬Mendel's experiments revealed that genes have alternative versions called alleles, which account for variations in traits.

👥Each organism inherits two alleles for each trait, one from each parent.

🌈If the alleles of an inherited pair differ, the dominant allele determines the organism's appearance.

🕰️Mendel's laws of segregation and independent assortment explain how genetic traits are passed down through generations.

Why did Mendel choose to study pea plants?

—Mendel chose pea plants because they were easy to grow, came in many distinct varieties, and had readily distinguishable traits.

What are alleles?

—Alleles are alternative versions of a gene that account for variations in traits.

How many alleles does an organism inherit for each trait?

—An organism inherits two alleles for each trait, one from each parent.

What determines an organism's appearance if the alleles of an inherited pair differ?

—The dominant allele determines the organism's appearance.

What do Mendel's laws of segregation and independent assortment explain?

—Mendel's laws explain how genetic traits are passed down through generations and how alleles of different traits are inherited independently.

00:00Throughout human history, humans have observed that offspring resemble their parents.

00:10In the 1800s, Gregor Mendel conducted groundbreaking work on pea plants and discovered the fundamental laws of inheritance.

00:30Mendel chose to study pea plants because they were easy to grow and had distinct varieties with different traits.

01:21Mendel's experiments revealed the concept of alleles, which are alternative versions of a gene that account for variations in traits.

02:23Organisms inherit two alleles for each trait, one from each parent.

03:03If the alleles of an inherited pair differ, the dominant allele determines the organism's appearance.

03:41Mendel's laws of segregation and independent assortment explain how genetic traits are passed down through generations.