Work and Achievments

A Genetic Great

His Work and What he Achieved

Gregor Mendel is best known for his work with pea plants. What must be remembered is that he pioneered this, as what he was achieving was unprecedented at the time. "Experiments with Plant Hybrids," is the document which explains how characteristics can be passed on from generation to generation. Even though it was written in 1866, it is still widely known and studied (as can be seen from the fact that we were given this project!). The reason that Mendel was not viewed as highly while alive as he is now, is because his work was to revolutionary to be understood. Therefore, it took over 30 years before it was understood, a little late to personally recognise him, as by that stage he had well and truly passed away.

He invented the terms, dominant and recessive traits and made defined them in the following way:
Dominant trait : the trait that resembles the parent.
Recessive trait : the alternative trait which is not expressed.

There was, however, an element of luck in his findings. The main intention of the test was to try and support Larmack's view that characteristics were determined by their environment. He found this not to be true, instead making a far more revolutionary discovery.

From these studies he created some basic laws of the theory of heredity:

Hereditary elements are passed intact through the generations.
Some of each of the parents' characteristics are dominant over others.
No two children will ever have the same sets of hereditary characteristics.

We have a large amount to thank Mendel for, because now we are able to recognise herditary diseases and take measures to prevent them in individuals.

Some major herediary illnesses include:

Some cancers
Cystic Fibrosis
Multiple Sclerosis

While some other hereditary elements are:

Hair colour
Eye colour
Baldness
Weight problems
Ways of thinking (ie. stubborness, excessive anger)

A direct example of how Mendel has changed the world through genetics is the fact that there are many types of plants being genetically altered to appear different, ie. blue roses. Genetically altered plants are known as hybrid plants. He examined many different elements of the pea plant, such as:

Size - tall or dwarfed;

Pod color - green or yellow;

Pod shape - inflated or constricted;

Seed color - yellow or green;

Flower position;

Seed shape - round or wrinkled;

Seed coat color - colored or white.

Here is an example of one of his findings, which is now commonplace in basic genteics study in schools:

It is true that there are ways that Mendel's findings can be used negatively, but I believe there is so much more to gain from such a revolutionary theory. He died in 1884, leaving behind a legacy which is still being explored.

Upbringing and Beginnings	Tributes to Mendel
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