Summarize the conclusions Mendel drew after examining the data from both the F1 and F2 generations of peas. Describe the nature and properties of Mendel's character controlling factors. What are Mendel's character controlling factors called in modern terminology?
Mendel concluded that each pea plant had two hereditary factors for each of the seven different characters. He surmised that the two factors for each characters became segregated during gamete formation and passed into separate gametes so that each gamete received only one factor for each character. Mendel then postulated that new plants received one factor from the male parent and one factor from the female parent. The appearance of yellow pods in the F2 generation indicated to Mendel that the factors had to be separate, particular entities which did not blend or fuse and which remained distinct and unchanged when gametes were formed. In modern terminology, Mendel's character controlling factors are the genes that makeup chromosomes.
