In his second set of experiments, Mendel wanted to know:
• Whether new traits spontaneously appeared
• Whether traits were inherited together or separately
• Whether peas were nutritious
• Whether peas have more genes than other plants
In his second set of experiments, Mendel primarily wanted to investigate whether traits were inherited together or separately (referred to as independent assortment). He aimed to understand if certain traits tend to be inherited together in a predictable manner or if they are inherited separately and randomly. This would help him determine the underlying principles of inheritance and the patterns of trait transmission.
Mendel did not specifically investigate whether new traits spontaneously appeared in his second set of experiments. Instead, he focused on studying the inheritance patterns of existing traits in pea plants.
The nutritional value of peas was not a primary concern in Mendel's experiments. His main goal was to unravel the principles of inheritance and the behavior of traits, rather than examining the nutritional properties of peas.
Regarding the number of genes, Mendel did not directly determine whether peas have more genes than other plants in his experiments. His work established the fundamental principles of inheritance, such as the laws of segregation and independent assortment, which apply to all organisms with genetic material. The discovery of the exact number of genes in pea plants and their comparison to other plants came much later through advancements in genetics and molecular biology.