Chapter 2, Problem 1CONQ

Why did Mendel’s work refute the idea of blending inheritance?

Summary Introduction

To review:

The reason as to why Mendel refuted the idea of blending inheritance.

Introduction:

Mendel worked on pea plants and conducted various crosses (Monohybrid and Dihybrid) and concluded several results such as the law of dominance, the law of segregation and the law of independent assortment. Darwin’s Pangenesis was also based on this concept but Mendel, on the basis of his monohybrid cross hypothesis, proved that the offspring are of parental character and do not differ from generation-to-generation.

Explanation of Solution

The theory of blending inheritance is a superseded theory which states that when a character is passed on from parents to offspring, it produces an intermediate character in the offspring. However, Mendel refuted this theory by conducting his monohybrid crosson a pea plant’sheight. The offsprings produced were either tall or short, while no intermediate character was seen or reported.

After conducting his experiment Mendel observed that in the F1 (first filial) generation, all the plants were tall. More convincing results were observed in the F2 (second filial) generation. Three-fourth (3/4) of the plants were tall and one-fourth (1/4) were dwarf, that is, both the F1 and F2 generations showed that plants were similar to their parental generation.

Conclusion

Therefore, it can be concluded that when a character is inherited by the offspring from the parents, it produces its full character and no intermediate effect is seen. Thus, Mendel’s work refuted the idea of blending inheritance.