Geneticist. Austrian monk and biologist born in Heizendorf, Austria (now Hynçice ion the Czech Republic), he is considered to be the father of genetics. His groundbreaking work in the theories of heredity used simple pea pod plants (28,000 of them) with which he studied seven basic characteristics. Tracing these he discovered three basic laws that govern the passage of a trait from one member of a species to another member of the same species. His first law states that the sex cells of a plant may contain two different traits, but not both of those traits; second law stated that characteristics are inherited independently from another, the basis for recessive and dominant gene composition; and the third theory states that each inherited characteristic is determined by two hereditary factors (genes), one from each parent, which decides whether a gene is dominant or recessive. If a seed gene is recessive, it will not show up within the plant, but rather the dominant trait will appear. Mendel's work and theories eventually became the basis for the study of modern genetics and are still recognized and used today. His work led to the discovery of particulate inheritance, dominant and recessive traits, genotype and phenotype, and the concept of heterozygosity and homozygosity. Unfortunately, Mendel's work was not recognized by his scientific peers even though he found actual proof of the existence of genes. In fact, after his death the new abbott replacing him at monastary burned all of his papers and his work remained relatively unappreciated until the early 1900's when a the Dutch botanist, Hugo De Vries, resurfaced his findings. Died in the Augustinian Monastery at Altbrünn (now Brno).
Geneticist. Austrian monk and biologist born in Heizendorf, Austria (now Hynçice ion the Czech Republic), he is considered to be the father of genetics. His groundbreaking work in the theories of heredity used simple pea pod plants (28,000 of them) with which he studied seven basic characteristics. Tracing these he discovered three basic laws that govern the passage of a trait from one member of a species to another member of the same species. His first law states that the sex cells of a plant may contain two different traits, but not both of those traits; second law stated that characteristics are inherited independently from another, the basis for recessive and dominant gene composition; and the third theory states that each inherited characteristic is determined by two hereditary factors (genes), one from each parent, which decides whether a gene is dominant or recessive. If a seed gene is recessive, it will not show up within the plant, but rather the dominant trait will appear. Mendel's work and theories eventually became the basis for the study of modern genetics and are still recognized and used today. His work led to the discovery of particulate inheritance, dominant and recessive traits, genotype and phenotype, and the concept of heterozygosity and homozygosity. Unfortunately, Mendel's work was not recognized by his scientific peers even though he found actual proof of the existence of genes. In fact, after his death the new abbott replacing him at monastary burned all of his papers and his work remained relatively unappreciated until the early 1900's when a the Dutch botanist, Hugo De Vries, resurfaced his findings. Died in the Augustinian Monastery at Altbrünn (now Brno).
Bio by: Fred Beisser
Advertisement
