Final answer:
Cowlicks and whorls are examples of growth patterns, which is the correct answer to the student's question. Growth patterns determine the direction of hair growth and are a key factor that affects how hair lies once it's dry. In relation to Mendelian genetics, seed texture was one of the traits Mendel observed in his pea plant experiments.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cowlicks and whorls are examples of growth patterns that will affect where the hair ends up once it is dry, especially in the nape. The correct answer is C) Growth patterns. These are the directions in which the hair grows out from the scalp, and they can create swirls or patterns that are often resistant to styling. Hair texture, density, and porosity can also affect hair styling, but they do not determine the natural flow or direction of the hair growth like growth patterns do.
Regarding the reference question, one of the seven characteristics that Gregor Mendel observed in pea plants was seed texture. Mendel, known as the father of genetics, conducted experiments on pea plants and studied traits like seed texture and shape, flower color, and pod shape to understand how traits are inherited from one generation to the next.