What is a defining feature of Mendelian genetics?

A defining feature of Mendelian genetics is the observation that patterns of genetic inheritance follow specific laws related to the assortment of alleles. These laws, articulated by Gregor Mendel through his experiments with pea plants, include the Law of Segregation and the Law of Independent Assortment.

The Law of Segregation states that allele pairs separate during gamete formation, which means that each gamete carries only one allele for each gene. The Law of Independent Assortment further explains how different genes independently separate from one another when reproductive cells develop. This predictability allows geneticists to make specific predictions about the inheritance of traits based on the genotype of the parents, thus establishing a foundational aspect of Mendelian genetics.

This predictable nature of inheritance is what sets Mendel's work apart and provides a framework for understanding hereditary patterns in many organisms, making option B the correct choice.