Answer to Question #60135 in Genetics for Sanjukta Ghosh

Question #60135

I was reading criteria that a molecule must fulfill before they are regarded as genetic material. There the book said: It should be able to express itself in the form of 'Mendelian Characters'. I couldn't understand this. Could you please explain.

Expert's answer

Mendelian Character is a trait, which follows the laws of inheritance formulated by Mendel. Thus, it means that the molecule regarded as genetic material must determine the development of traits, and those traits must follow the laws of segregation and independent assortment suggested by Mendel.