What is the classical inheritance pattern described by Mendel called?

The classical inheritance pattern described by Mendel is known as Mendelian inheritance. This term encompasses the fundamental principles that Gregor Mendel established through his experiments with pea plants, which include the concepts of dominant and recessive traits, segregation, and independent assortment. Mendelian inheritance focuses on how traits are passed down through generations, adhering to specific ratios and patterns that Mendel observed.

Mendel's work laid the groundwork for our understanding of genetics, showing how traits can be inherited in predictable ways based on the alleles contributed by each parent. This foundational concept is crucial for anyone studying genetics, as it applies to many aspects of heredity, including the study of single-gene traits in organisms.

The other options represent distinct genetic concepts that do not describe the basic patterns of inheritance Mendel outlined. Polygenic inheritance involves the influence of multiple genes on a single trait, complete dominance refers specifically to a situation where one allele completely masks the other, and pleiotropy describes a single gene affecting multiple traits. These concepts arise from more complex genetic interactions and do not form the basis of the classical inheritance pattern established by Mendel.