(N/A) Inheritance of one gene can be studied by a hybridization experiment carried out by Mendel,where he crossed tall and dwarf pea plants to study the inheritance of one gene.
He collected the seeds produced as a result of this cross and grew them to generate plants of the first hybrid generation.
This generation is also called the filial $1$ progeny or the $F_{1}$ generation.
- Mendel observed that all the $F_{1}$ progeny plants were tall like one of its parents; none were dwarf.
- He made similar observations for the other pairs of traits; he found that the $F_{1}$ always resembled either one of the parents and that the trait of the other parent was not seen in them.
Mendel then self-pollinated the tall $F_{1}$ plants and,to his surprise,found that in the filial $2$ $(F_{2})$ generation,some of the offspring were dwarf. The character that was not seen in the $F_{1}$ generation was now expressed.
The proportion of plants that were dwarf was $1/4$ of the $F_{2}$ plants,while $3/4$ of the $F_{2}$ plants were tall.
The tall and dwarf traits were identical to their parental type and did not show any blending; that is,all the offspring were either tall or dwarf,and none were of intermediate height.