The basic principles of Mendelian genetics focus on how traits are passed down from parents to offspring. These principles were discovered by Gregor Mendel, a scientist who studied pea plants in the 19th century. Here are some key points:
1. **Law of Segregation**: This law states that each individual has two alleles for each gene, one from each parent. These alleles separate during gamete formation, and each gamete only carries one allele for each gene.
2. **Law of Independent Assortment**: This law states that alleles of different genes are inherited independently of each other during gamete formation. This means that the inheritance of one trait does not influence the inheritance of another trait.
3. **Dominant and Recessive Traits**: In Mendelian genetics, traits can be dominant or recessive. Dominant traits are always expressed when present, while recessive traits are only expressed when two copies of the recessive allele are present.
4. **Punnett Squares**: Punnett squares are used to predict the possible genotypes and phenotypes of offspring based on the genotypes of the parents. This tool helps understand the probabilities of different trait combinations in offspring.
5. **Examples**: For example, if we consider a trait like flower color in pea plants, where purple flowers are dominant (PP or Pp) and white flowers are recessive (pp), a Punnett square can show the possible combinations when two plants with different genotypes are crossed.
Understanding these principles and patterns of inheritance can help predict the likelihood of certain traits appearing in offspring and contribute to our understanding of genetic inheritance across generations.
