Every time that a dominant characteristic encounters a recessive one (R with a or Y with g), it overpowers and hides it: consequently the results of the different combinations are quite definitely limited as determining forms of different individuals. In fact, the results of the sixteen combinations are as follows:
| R Y | R Y |
| R Y | R Y |
| R Y | a Y |
| R Y | a Y |
| R Y | R Y |
| R g | R g |
| R Y | a Y |
| R g | a g |
That is to say, the only forms which occur are the following:
R Y, R g
a Y, a g
whose relative probability of occurrence is:
| R Y | 9 | times in 16 = | 56.25% |
| R g | 3 | times in 16 = | 18.75% |
| a Y | 3 | times in 16 = | 18.75% |
| a g | 1 | time in 16 = | 6.25% |
Now, as a result of actual experiment, the forms obtained show the following relative percentage:
| Results of experiments with plants | according to the combinations and laws of probability | |
|---|---|---|
| R Y | 56.5% | 56.25% |
| R g | 19.75% | 18.75% |
| a Y | 18.2% | 18.75% |
| a g | 5.8% | 6.25% |
The correspondence between these figures is close enough to warrant the acceptance of Mendel's hypothesis as the true interpretation of the phenomena that are shown to take place within the sexual cells; the germinal cells of the hybrid contain potentialities belonging to one or the other only of the parents, and not to both; one-half of the cells contain one of these potentialities, and the other half the other potentiality.