Mendel proposed that traits observed in pea plants resulted from a combination of factors inherited from each parent. His description of these factors can be considered the first scientific definition?

of genes, which are units of heredity that determine specific traits. Mendel's experiments with pea plants led to the formulation of the laws of inheritance, including the law of segregation and the law of independent assortment. These principles laid the groundwork for modern genetics, demonstrating how traits are passed from one generation to the next through discrete units. Mendel's work established a foundational understanding of genetic inheritance that continues to influence Biology today.