blending inheritance The early theory that assumed that hereditary substances from parents merge together in their offspring. Mendel showed that this does not occur (see Mendel's laws). In breeding experiments an appearance of blending may result from codominant alleles (see codominance) and polygenes but close study shows that the alleles retain their identity through successive generations. Compare particulate inheritance.

blending inheritance An inheritance in which the characters of the parent appear to blend to form an intermediate state in the offspring, and in which there is no apparent segregation in later generations. The concept was proposed originally by biologists in the nineteenth century, including Darwin, but later it was discredited as a model of inheritance after the results of Mendel's experiments had been recognized.

blending inheritance Inheritance in which the characters of the parents appear to blend to form an intermediate state in the offspring, and in which there is no apparent segregation in later generations. The concept was proposed originally by biologists in the 19th century, including Darwin, but later it was discredited as a model of inheritance after the results of Mendel's experiments had been recognized.

blending inheritance Inheritance in which the characters of the parents appear to blend to form an intermediate state in the offspring, and in which there is no apparent segregation in later generations. The concept was proposed originally by biologists in the nineteenth century, including Darwin, but later it was discredited as a model of inheritance after the results of Mendel's experiments had been recognized.