Gregor Mendel experimented with garden:

Gregor Mendel is widely recognized as the father of modern genetics due to his foundational work with pea plants in the mid-19th century. He chose to experiment with garden peas primarily because they possess several key characteristics that make them ideal for genetic studies. These include distinct and easily observable traits such as flower color, seed shape, and pod color.

Peas also have a relatively short generation time, allowing Mendel to observe the results of his crossbreeding experiments over a manageable timeframe. Additionally, they can self-pollinate or be cross-pollinated, giving Mendel control over the breeding process. This ability to manipulate fertilization was crucial for establishing the principles of inheritance that Mendel formulated, such as the concepts of dominant and recessive traits.

Through meticulously recorded experiments, Mendel uncovered the laws of inheritance, which laid the groundwork for future genetics research, emphasizing the importance of pea plants in his studies. Thus, the choice of garden peas stands as the cornerstone of Mendelian genetics, making it the correct response to the question.