The Importance of Gregor Mendel's Work with Pea Genes in Genetics

Why did Gregor Mendel choose to work with pea plants?

a. Because they are difficult to grow
b. Because they have a long generation time
c. Because they produce large numbers of offspring
d. Because they are not suitable for genetic experiments

Answer:

c. Because they produce large numbers of offspring

Gregor Mendel, an Austrian monk, chose to work with pea plants because they produce large numbers of offspring. This allowed him to conduct experiments and observe the inheritance of traits across generations in a more efficient manner compared to other plants with fewer offspring.

Pea plants also have a short generation time, which means that Mendel could observe multiple generations in a shorter period of time. This rapid turnover of generations enabled him to gather data and draw conclusions more quickly, leading to his groundbreaking discoveries in genetics.

By focusing on pea genes, Mendel was able to establish the basic laws of inheritance, which laid the foundation for the science of genetics. His work with pea plants remains pivotal in the field of genetics and has implications for various fields such as medicine, agriculture, and evolutionary biology.

Overall, Mendel's choice to work with pea plants was strategic and crucial in advancing our understanding of genetics and heredity.