What were the two incorrect ideas of inheritance mentioned in genetics?

• A. Pangenesis and Darwinism
• B. Blending hypothesis and universal inheritance
• C. Pangenesis and blending hypothesis
• D. Independent assortment and linkage theory

Answer: (C)

The two incorrect ideas of inheritance mentioned in genetics are pangenesis and the blending hypothesis.

Pangenesis, proposed by Charles Darwin, suggested that all parts of an organism contribute to the genetic information passed on to offspring, and that "particles" from every part of the body travel to the reproductive organs. This idea was ultimately incorrect because it did not account for how traits are actually inherited; it lacks a clear mechanism for how these particles would work and was disproved with the understanding of genetics.

The blending hypothesis, which predates Mendel's work, posited that offspring are a blend of their parents' traits, similar to mixing paint colors. This concept implies that hereditary traits mix together and dilute over generations, which contradicts the observable inheritance patterns demonstrated by Mendelian genetics, where traits can skip generations rather than blend.

Both of these ideas were significant in the history of genetics as they influenced early thoughts on heredity, yet scientific advancements have shown that the actual mechanisms of inheritance are more complex and are better explained by concepts such as Mendel's laws.