Question

and meticulously tracked the results. he observed that certain characteristics of the plants, such as flower color, were present in new generations in predictable ways. his carefully kept notes showed that when a purebred white - flowered plant was crossed with a purebred pink - flowered plant, the resulting offspring always had pink flowers. however, the white - flower trait would consistently reappear in later generations. mendel concluded that the pink trait was dominant while the white trait was recessive - masked by the dominant pink trait but still lurking somewhere in the plant. subsequent experiments would demonstrate the veracity of mendels findings by replicating his studies and confirming his results. however, it would be nearly a hundred years before the mechanism of this inheritance was discovered. we now know that genes are responsible for the pattern that mendel observed in his pea plants. plants and animals usually have two copies of the same gene, one from each parent. its only when both copies are recessive that the recessive trait - in mendels experiments, the trait for white flowers - is expressed, or made visible. what is the meaning of meticulously as used in the passage? rapidly enthusiastically thoughtfully or wisely thoroughly or exactingly

Explanation:

To determine the meaning of "meticulously", we analyze the context. Mendel tracked results, kept careful notes, and his work was replicable. "Rapidly" refers to speed, which isn't indicated. "Enthusiastically" is about enthusiasm, not supported. "Thoughtfully or wisely" is about wisdom, not matching. "Thoroughly or exactingly" fits as his work was detailed, careful, and precise, matching how he tracked and recorded.

Answer:

thoroughly or exactingly