Question

How did Mendel interpret his results to show that traits may be dominant or recessive? Describe briefly.

Answer 1

Mendel interpreted his results by observing the first and second filial generations. He observed that even when not expressed in the first filial generation, alternate forms of a trait could retain their identity in the hybrid and could re-emerge in the next generation. He concluded that each factor contained information about a form of a trait.The factor associated with the trait that was expressed in the hybrid offspring was dominant and the factor associated with the trait that remained hidden in the hybrid but reappeared in the next generation was recessive.