How many pairs of contrasting characters in pea plants were studied by Mendel in his experiments?

Options

A. Eight
B. Seven
C. Five
D. Six

Answer

To answer the question regarding how many pairs of contrasting characters in pea plants were studied by Mendel in his experiments, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Subject**: The question is about Gregor Mendel's experiments with pea plants, specifically the contrasting characters he studied.

2. **Recall Mendel's Work**: Mendel is known for his foundational work in genetics, where he conducted experiments on pea plants to understand inheritance patterns.

3. **List the Contrasting Characters**: Mendel studied several pairs of contrasting traits in pea plants. The pairs he focused on include:
- Height of the plant (tall vs. short)
- Flower color (purple vs. white)
- Flower position (axial vs. terminal)
- Pod shape (inflated vs. constricted)
- Pod color (green vs. yellow)
- Seed shape (round vs. wrinkled)
- Seed color (yellow vs. green)

4. **Count the Pairs**: By listing the pairs, we can count them:
- 1. Height of the plant
- 2. Flower color
- 3. Flower position
- 4. Pod shape
- 5. Pod color
- 6. Seed shape
- 7. Seed color

5. **Conclusion**: Mendel studied a total of **7 pairs of contrasting characters** in his experiments with pea plants.

### Final Answer:
Mendel studied **7 pairs of contrasting characters** in pea plants during his experiments.

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