Mendel and the Gene Idea Drawing from the Deck of Genes * What principles account for the transmission of traits from parents to offspring? * The ?blending? hypothesis is the idea that genetic material from the two parents blends together (like blue and yellow paint blend to make green) * The ?particulate? hypothesis is the idea that parents pass on discrete heritable units (genes) * Mendel documented a particulate mechanism through his experiments with garden peas Concept 14.1: Mendel used the scientific approach to identify two laws of inheritance * Mendel discovered the basic principles of heredity by breeding garden peas in carefully planned experiments Mendel?s Experimental, Quantitative Approach