Question

which statement best describes an understanding of genetics that would be missing without the work of mendel?
the dna codes for traits would not be known.
the protein codes for traits would not be known.
some alleles are dominant, and some alleles are recessive.
offspring receive two copies of each allele from each parent.

Explanation:

Mendel's work in genetics established the concepts of dominant and recessive alleles through his pea plant experiments. Knowledge about DNA or protein coding for traits came later, and the idea that offspring get one copy (not two) of each allele from each parent is a misstatement (offspring get one from each parent, totaling two). So the key understanding missing without Mendel is the concept of dominant and recessive alleles.

Answer:

C. Some alleles are dominant, and some alleles are recessive.