Sharpen Mind: Birth of Genetics

Posted by Jerry Lopper Jan 14, 2007

The science of genetics began with the observations of a Czech monk in the 1800's. Gregor Mendel, observing the unique traits of pea plants in the monestery garden, isolated factors that determine plant characteristics. Mendel named these factors alleles; later named genes.

Mendel conceived of the dominant-recessive traits of inheritance after cultivating and testing more than 28,000 plants.

Mendel's work was largely ignored during his lifetime and he died in obscurity. Botanists discovered his work in 1990, changing the field of genetics.

Source: The Intellectual Devotional, David S.Kidder & Noah D. Oppenheim