Why did Mendel use the garden pea in his experiments? SELECT ALL THAT APPI Y a They don't self -pollinate. b They had seven distinct characteristics. c They are fast growing.

## Step 1<br />Gregor Mendel, the father of genetics, chose the garden pea (Pisum sativum) for his experiments due to several reasons. <br /><br />## Step 2<br />One of the reasons was that peas have several distinct, easily observable traits. These traits include flower color, seed shape, and pod color. This made it easier for Mendel to track inheritance patterns.<br /><br />## Step 3<br />Another reason was that peas are self-pollinating, but Mendel could also cross-pollinate them manually. This allowed him to control the mating between plants.<br /><br />## Step 4<br />Lastly, peas are fast-growing and produce many offspring. This allowed Mendel to observe patterns over several generations within a relatively short period.<br /><br />## Step 5<br />The statement "They don't self-pollinate" is incorrect. Peas are actually self-pollinating, which is one of the reasons Mendel chose them for his experiments.