`"_______"` pairs of contrasting traits were studied by Mendel in pea plant

Options

A. 6
B. 7
C. 8
D. 10

Answer

To solve the question regarding the number of pairs of contrasting traits studied by Mendel in pea plants, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand the Context**: Mendel is known as the father of genetics, and he conducted experiments using pea plants to understand inheritance patterns.

2. **Identify the Traits Studied**: Mendel studied several traits in pea plants. We need to determine how many pairs of contrasting traits he focused on.

3. **List the Traits**: According to Mendel's experiments, the following seven pairs of contrasting traits were studied:
- Seed shape: Round (dominant) vs. Wrinkled (recessive)
- Seed color: Yellow (dominant) vs. Green (recessive)
- Pod shape: Inflated (dominant) vs. Constricted (recessive)
- Pod color: Green (dominant) vs. Yellow (recessive)
- Flower color: Violet (dominant) vs. White (recessive)
- Plant height: Tall (dominant) vs. Dwarf (recessive)
- Flower position: Axial (dominant) vs. Terminal (recessive)

4. **Count the Pairs**: By counting the pairs listed above, we find that Mendel studied a total of **7 pairs** of contrasting traits.

5. **Select the Correct Answer**: The question asks for the number of pairs of contrasting traits studied by Mendel, which we have determined to be **7**.

### Final Answer:
**7 pairs of contrasting traits were studied by Mendel in pea plants.**

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