Mendel's inheritance experiments with pea plants demonstrated the basic principles of genetic inheritance. When Mendel crossed tall and dwarf pea plants, he observed that all the first generation (F1) progeny were tall, indicating the dominance of the tall trait. No intermediate heights were observed, showing no blending of traits. 

While Mendel's principles laid the foundation for understanding genetics, later studies revealed complexities beyond his findings. Linked genes on the same chromosome can be inherited together, challenging Mendel's rule of independent assortment.