The way in which traits are passed from one generation to the next-and sometimes skip generations-was first explained by Gregor Mendel. By experimenting with pea plant breeding, Mendel developed three principles of inheritance that described the transmission of genetic traits, before anyone knew genes existed.
1. Steppe. Much of the region of Central Asia is covered by a semi-arid, treeless, mostly flat land known as the Steppe or Steppes. Part is in Europe by the Ukraine, but most is in Asia extending to eastern Mongolia. 1  Steppe Tribes.
About the Area. This Global ecoregion is made up of these terrestrial ecoregions: Central Asian riparian woodlands; Central Asian northern desert; Central Asian southern desert. The Central Asian deserts, a mosaic of clay, stone, salt and sandy deserts, support the highest level of biological richness of all the Eurasian deserts. The Karakum (Black Sands) and the Kyzylkum (Red Sands) are two local deserts that are particularly rich in species diversity.