Gregor Mendel

Gregor Mendel was an Austrian monk and scientist who is regarded as the founder of the science of genetics. His experiments with pea plants established the laws of inheritance that bear his name.

Early Life and Education

Mendel was born in 1822 in Heinzendorf, in Silesia, then part of the Austrian Empire. His family were farmers of German descent.

He entered the Augustinian monastery of St Thomas in Brno and took the name Gregor. He studied at the University of Vienna and trained as a teacher.

He was interested in science and in the breeding of plants and of animals. He conducted experiments in the monastery garden.

The Experiments with Peas

Mendel conducted a series of experiments with pea plants over a period of eight years. He studied the inheritance of seven characteristics, including the colour and the shape of the seeds.

He used pure-breeding lines and controlled the pollination of the plants. The method allowed him to observe the patterns of inheritance.

He found that the first generation of hybrids resembled one of the parents. The second generation showed a ratio of three to one.

The Laws of Inheritance

Mendel concluded that the characteristics are determined by discrete factors that are inherited from the parents. The factors are now known as genes.

He formulated the law of segregation, according to which the two factors for a characteristic separate during the formation of the gametes. He also formulated the law of independent assortment.

The laws were published in 1866 in the proceedings of the natural history society of Brno. The paper attracted little attention.

The Rediscovery

Mendel's work was rediscovered in 1900 by three botanists working independently. The laws were confirmed and the science of genetics was founded.

The paper was recognised as a landmark of biology. The monastery and the garden at Brno became a place of pilgrimage for geneticists.

The term gene was coined by the Danish botanist Wilhelm Johannsen. The science of genetics developed rapidly in the twentieth century.

The Later Life

Mendel was elected abbot of the monastery in 1868. He became involved in the administration and in a dispute with the government over the taxation of the monastery.

He continued to conduct experiments with other plants and with bees. He was interested in meteorology and in the study of the weather.

He died in 1884 in Brno. The significance of his work was not recognised during his lifetime.

Legacy

Mendel is regarded as the father of genetics. His laws are a foundation of the science of heredity.

The term Mendelian inheritance is used to describe the patterns that he discovered. His work has influenced the development of biology and of medicine.

He is remembered for his patience and for his method. His experiments are a model of scientific inquiry.

The Choice of the Pea Plant

Mendel chose the pea plant for his experiments. The plant is easy to grow and has clearly defined characteristics.

He selected seven traits and established pure-breeding lines. He controlled the pollination by hand.

The method was careful and systematic. The choice of the material and of the method was one of the keys to his success.

The Laws of Inheritance

Mendel formulated the law of segregation. The two factors for a characteristic separate during the formation of the gametes.

He formulated the law of independent assortment. The factors for different characteristics are inherited independently.

The laws were published in 1866. They were ignored until their rediscovery in 1900.

The Rediscovery and the Science of Genetics

Three botanists rediscovered the work of Mendel in 1900. The laws were confirmed and the science of genetics was founded.

The work of Mendel was combined with the study of the chromosome. The gene was identified as the unit of heredity.

The science of genetics developed rapidly in the twentieth century. It became a foundation of biology and of medicine.

The Experiments with the Pea Plants

Mendel conducted his experiments in the garden of the monastery at Brno. He grew some twenty-eight thousand pea plants over eight years.

He counted the offspring of each cross and recorded the ratios. He applied the mathematics to the results.

The method was rigorous and quantitative. It distinguished his work from that of his predecessors.

The Failure of the Teaching

Mendel failed the examination for the teaching certificate. He was not a successful teacher and was better suited to research.

He became the abbot of the monastery and his scientific work came to an end. The duties of the office occupied his time.

He died in 1884 and his work was forgotten. It was rediscovered sixteen years later.

See also

• Genetics
• Mendelian inheritance