The Father of Genetics Gregor Johann Mendel 1822

“The Father of Genetics” Gregor Johann Mendel (1822 -1884) Shane Connolly

Johann Mendel • • • Born July 22, 1822 Born in present day Czech Republic Son of a peasant farmer Only son (2 sisters) Almost didn’t go to school – Poor – Father’s injury

Education • 1841 - Philosophy Institute of Olomouc • 1843 - St. Thomas Monastery – Augustinian Order – Took test to become teacher - failed • 1851 - University of Vienna – Studied to teach Math and Biology – Became ill when he went to take test again

Early Work • Curious about the characteristics of different species • Started work with the color of mice hair

Pea Experiment • 7 characteristics tested – position of the flowers on the stem – stem length – color of the unripe pod – shape of the ripe seed – color of the seed coat – shape of the ripe pod – color of the ripe seed

Pea Plants (cont. ) • First experimented with round seeds and wrinkled seeds • Tried pure round seeds and pure wrinkled seeds next to each other • Bred pure round seeds with pure wrinkled seeds and all came out round • Next generation saw round seeds at a 3: 1 with wrinkled seeds

Basics of Heredity • Dominant trait (A) - trait that when combined purely with another pure opposite trait, will show up in the next generation • Recessive Trait (a) - trait that when combined purely with another pure opposite trait, will not show up in the next generation • Called the traits “factors”

Mendel’s Laws • The Law of Segregation - Each parent carries 1 trait that are combined together during reproduction, even though only 1 shows • Law of Independent Assortment - When parents with 2 different traits reproduce the inheritance of one trait does not affect the inheritance of the other, and chance decides which one does show up • Law of Dominance - There will always be 1 dominant trait and 1 recessive trait.

End of Work • Presented these findings in a paper called "Experiments in Plant Hybridization" to the Association for Natural Research twice • Published by the association a little later • Work was unrenowned, too complicated • 1863 - became abbot of monastery • 1870 - Tornado took out greenhouse • Died Jan. 6, 1884

"My scientific labors have brought me a great deal of satisfaction, and I am convinced that before long the entire world will praise the result of these labors. ”

Rediscovery • 1900 3 scientist rediscovered – Carl Correns in Germany – Hugo de Vries in the Netherlands – Erich von Tschermak-Seysenegg in Austria • Development of phenotype vs genotype – 1911, Wilhelm Johannsen • Punnet Squares – Reginald Crundall Punnett • Still accepted today

Summary • Served as a monk in the Augustinian Order • Discovered the concept of dominant and recessive traits • Work wasn’t recognized until 25 years after his death

References • http: //www. mnsu. edu/emuseum/information/bi ography/klmno/mendel_gregor. html • http: //mendel. imp. ac. at/mendeljsp/biography/ biography. jsp • http: //astro 4. ast. vill. edu/mendel/gregor. htm • http: //web. pdx. edu/~cruzan/Kid's%20 Mendel %20 Web/Johann%20 Mendel. htm • http: //www. accessexcellence. org/RC/AB/BC/ Gregor_Mendel. php • http: //www. strangescience. net/mendel. htm