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Gregor Mendel Contribution To Genetics

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37 views2 pages

Gregor Mendel Contribution To Genetics

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tanishkasoni4252
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1.

Gregor Mendel, often called the "Father of Genetics," made groundbreaking


contributions to our understanding of heredity through his experiments with pea
plants. Here's a summary of his contributions:

1. Experiments on Pea Plants


Mendel conducted experiments between 1856 and 1863 on pea plants (Pisum
sativum). He chose these plants because they had easily observable traits (e.g., seed
color, plant height) and could be cross-pollinated or self-pollinated. He studied seven
contrasting traits, such as tall vs. short plants or green vs. yellow seeds.

2. Key Discoveries
 Inheritance is Particulate:
Mendel proposed that inheritance is not a blending of traits but involves
discrete units or "factors" (now called genes) that are passed from parents to
offspring.
 Laws of Heredity:
He formulated two fundamental principles:
 Law of Segregation:
Each organism carries two "factors" (alleles) for each trait, which
segregate during the formation of gametes (sperm and egg), so each
gamete carries only one allele.
 Law of Independent Assortment:
Traits are inherited independently of each other, provided they are not
linked (on the same chromosome). This means the inheritance of one
trait does not influence the inheritance of another.

3. Dominant and Recessive Traits


Mendel observed that some traits (dominant traits) mask the presence of others
(recessive traits). For example:

 When he crossed tall plants with short plants, all offspring in the first
generation (F1) were tall.
 In the second generation (F2), the tall-to-short ratio was 3:1.

4. Mathematical Approach to Biology


Mendel was among the first to apply statistical methods and probability to biology,
making his work highly systematic and reproducible.

5. Rediscovery of Mendel’s Work


Mendel's work went unnoticed during his lifetime. It was rediscovered in 1900 by
scientists like Hugo de Vries, Carl Correns, and Erich von Tschermak, who confirmed
his principles of inheritance.

Impact on Modern Genetics


Mendel’s discoveries laid the foundation for:

 The understanding of genes, alleles, and genetic inheritance.


 The development of modern genetics and tools like the Punnett square.
 Advances in genetic engineering and biotechnology.

By explaining how traits are passed down, Mendel revolutionized biology and
provided the framework for understanding DNA and molecular genetics later on.

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