What is the theory of particulate inheritance?

Question

Eli Ayoub · Accepted Answer

The theory of particulate inheritance states that discrete "particles" are passed from parents to offspring. While Mendel used the term particles, we now know that these particles are actually genes. Mendel also knew that particles may not be present in every generation, but they remain and keep their ability to be expressed in later generations.

For example, Perhaps one of your parents has blue eyes and the other brown eyes. You yourself have brown eyes but you keep the gene for blue eyes, which can be expressed in your offspring if you mate with someone who also carries the gene for blue eyes.

Below is a punnet square showing the parental generation and the particles the F1 generation (offspring of parents) inherits. Below we see the possible combinations the F2 generation (offspring of the offspring) could inherit from their parents.

Eli Ayoub · Answer

undefined The theory of particulate inheritance, proposed by Gregor Mendel in the 19th century, suggests that hereditary traits are passed from parents to offspring through discrete particles known as genes. These genes maintain their individuality and do not blend together during inheritance. Mendel's experiments with pea plants provided evidence for this theory, laying the groundwork for the modern understanding of genetics.