The modern understanding of generational inheritance of traits is based upon the studies made by Gregor Mendel, an Austrian monk. He selected pea plants (Pisum sativum) for his breeding experiments because they serve as a good model being an annual plant with perfect bisexual flowers along with many contrasting characteristics.

When both the parents with certain characteristics of pure lines are crossed, then all the members of the progeny are of only one phenotype. The phenotype that is expressed in the progeny of the first generation, also known as the first filial generation (F1), is the dominant character, while the phenotype which isn’t expressed is the recessive character.

In this biology practical of Mendel’s law, we’re going to consider pure homozygous dominant yellow colour seed coat in pea plant with pure recessive green colour seed coat in pea plant for pollination. In F1 generation, all the progeny has phenotypically purple flowers. When F1 generation was self-pollinated, and the F2 generation was obtained, it was observed that both yellow and green colour seed coats appeared in a ratio of 3:1 (3 yellow and 1 green).

From the results obtained in F2 generation, Mendel proposed that each character (trait) and one factor (later known as gene) was inherited from each parent through gametes. Hence, he inferred that alleles of these traits segregate while getting inherited, called the law of segregation.

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Requirements for this Science Experiment

⦁ Beaker ⦁ Beads