 Other theories of inheritance preceded his work . A popular theory during Mendel 's time was the concept of blending inheritance : the idea that individuals inherit a smooth blend of traits from their parents . Mendel 's work provided examples where traits were definitely not blended after hybridization , showing that traits are produced by combinations of distinct genes rather than a continuous blend . Blending of traits in the progeny is now explained by the action of multiple genes with quantitative effects . Another theory that had some support at that time was the inheritance of acquired characteristics : the belief that individuals inherit traits strengthened by their parents . This theory ( commonly associated with Jean @-@ Baptiste Lamarck ) is now known to be wrong — the experiences of individuals do not affect the genes they pass to their children , although evidence in the field of epigenetics has revived some aspects of Lamarck 's theory . Other theories included the pangenesis of Charles Darwin ( which had both acquired and inherited aspects ) and Francis Galton 's reformulation of pangenesis as both particulate and inherited . 
