What according to Mendel was responsible for the inheritance of specific traits?

Options

A. Genes
B. Chromosomes
C. Factors
D. DNA

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Mendel's Contribution**: Gregor Mendel is known as the father of genetics due to his pioneering work on the inheritance of traits in pea plants. He conducted experiments to understand how traits are passed from one generation to the next.

2. **Definition of Traits**: Traits refer to specific characteristics or features of an organism, such as flower color, seed shape, or plant height.

3. **Mendel's Experiments**: Mendel performed cross-breeding experiments with pea plants, observing how traits were inherited. He meticulously recorded the results of these experiments over several generations.

4. **Discovery of Inheritance Patterns**: Through his experiments, Mendel discovered that traits are inherited in a predictable manner. He formulated the laws of inheritance, which include the Law of Segregation and the Law of Independent Assortment.

5. **Introduction of Factors**: Mendel introduced the concept of "factors" that are responsible for the inheritance of traits. These factors are what we now understand to be genes.

6. **Conclusion**: According to Mendel, the inheritance of specific traits is due to these "factors," which are now known as genes. These factors are passed from parents to offspring, determining the traits of the next generation.

**Final Answer**: According to Mendel, the inheritance of specific traits is responsible due to "factors," which we now call genes.

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