Gregor Mendel

Gregor Johann Mendel (July 22, 1822 – January 6, 1884) was an Austrian monk who is often called the "father of genetics" for his study of the inheritance of traits in pea plants.Mendel showed that there was particulate inheritance of traits according to his laws of inheritance. However, nobody (including Mendel) realised the significance of his work and it was largely ignored until the turn of the 20th century. Its rediscovery prompted the foundation of genetics.

Rediscovery of Mendel's work

It was not until the early 20th century that the importance of his ideas was realized. In 1900, his work was finally rediscovered by Hugo de Vries, Carl Correns and Erich von Tschermak. His results were quickly replicated, and genetic linkage quickly worked out. However, a period of tense argument ensued over its significance between William Bateson and Karl Pearson. Ronald Fisher in 1918 used Mendelian genetics as the basis of the start of the modern synthesis in evolutionary biology.

Related Topics:
20th century - 1900 - Hugo de Vries - Carl Correns - Erich von Tschermak - William Bateson - Karl Pearson - Ronald Fisher - The modern synthesis

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His experimental results have later been the object of considerable dispute. The renowned statistician Ronald Fisher analyzed the results of the F1 (first filial) ratio and found them to be implausibly close to the exact ratio of 3 to 1. Only a few would accuse Mendel of scientific malpractice or call it a scientific fraud — reproduction of his experiments has demonstrated the accuracy of his hypothesis — however, the results have continued to be a mystery for many, though it is often cited as an example of confirmation bias, and he is generally suspected of having "smoothed" his data to some degree (not knowing about the importance of blind classification). The fact that his reported results concentrate on the few traits in peas which are determined by a single gene has also suggested that he may have censored his results, otherwise he would have stumbled across genetic linkage.

Related Topics:
Ronald Fisher - Scientific malpractice - Scientific fraud - Confirmation bias - Genetic linkage

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The standard botanical author abbreviation Mendel is applied to species he described.

Related Topics:
Botanical author abbreviation - Species

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