Gregor Mendel and the Foundations of Genetics

In the mid-1800s, Gregor Mendel, an Austrian monk, began experimenting with pea plants. His meticulous cross-breeding experiments laid the foundation for modern genetics, although he wasn’t recognized for his groundbreaking work until decades later.

Mendel chose peas for their distinct traits, such as seed shape and flower color, and their ability to self-pollinate. This allowed him to control and observe how traits were passed down through generations.

Mendel discovered that some traits are dominant while others are recessive. For example, when he crossed tall and short pea plants, the first-generation offspring were all tall, revealing the dominance of the tall trait.

From his experiments, Mendel formulated the Law of Segregation and the Law of Independent Assortment. These principles describe how alleles (different forms of a gene) segregate and assort independently during the formation of gametes.

Mendel's work was largely ignored until the early 20th century when scientists rediscovered his research. His principles became the cornerstone of genetics, influencing fields like biology, agriculture, and medicine. Mendel is now known as the 'Father of Genetics.'

Mendel's pea plants still exist today! Descendants of his original plants are maintained in genetic repositories, preserving their historical significance.