Who is known as 'Father of Genetics' ?

The correct answer is Gregor Johann Mendel.

Key Points

• Gregor Johann Mendel (1822–1884) is known as the Father of Genetics due to his pioneering work on inheritance patterns.
• He conducted experiments on pea plants (Pisum sativum) in the mid-19th century to study heredity, identifying key principles of genetic inheritance.
• Mendel introduced the concepts of "dominant" and "recessive" traits, which are fundamental to understanding modern genetics.
• His work, published in 1866, outlined the Law of Segregation and the Law of Independent Assortment, forming the basis of classical genetics.
• Mendel's research went largely unnoticed during his lifetime but gained recognition in the early 20th century, revolutionizing biology and genetics.

Additional Information

• Law of Segregation:
  • This law states that each individual possesses two alleles for each trait, and these alleles segregate (separate) during gamete formation, with each gamete receiving one allele.
  • It explains why offspring inherit one genetic factor from each parent.
• Law of Independent Assortment:
  • This law states that genes for different traits are inherited independently of each other, provided they are not linked on the same chromosome.
  • It is valid only for genes located on different chromosomes or far apart on the same chromosome.
• Dominant and Recessive Traits:
  • Dominant traits are expressed when at least one dominant allele is present (e.g., tall plants in Mendel's experiments).
  • Recessive traits are expressed only when both alleles are recessive (e.g., short plants).
• Mendelian Genetics:
  • The term refers to the set of principles derived from Mendel's work, forming the foundation of classical genetics.
  • Modern genetics has expanded upon Mendel's findings, incorporating molecular biology and genomic studies.
• Rediscovery of Mendel's Work:
  • Mendel's research was rediscovered independently by three scientists—Hugo de Vries, Carl Correns, and Erich von Tschermak—in 1900, decades after its initial publication.
  • This rediscovery marked the beginning of the modern era of genetics.