List the four basic principles of genetics that Mendel discovered in his experiments. Briefly describe each of these principles.

1. Fundamental theory of heredity - Mendel discovered that traits (dominant or recessive) cannot be blended. They remain to be distinct as they are passed on to future offspring. Inheritance of such traits involves the passing of certain "inheritance units", which we now call genes or alleles.

2. Principle of segregation - Mendel said that the inheritance units of a species are separated into reproductive cells through meiosis. When fertilization occurs, the alleles reunite, but now come from two parent sources.

3. Principle of independent assortment - parents with more than one trait do not always produce offspring that have matching traits. Traits are passed on independently to subsequent generations.

4. Dominance - dominant traits have better chances of appearing on the offspring's phenotype