Mendel , Gregor Johann

Mendel , Gregor Johann
(1822–1884) Austrian plant geneticist
Born in Heinzendorf (now Hynčice in the Czech Republic), Mendel studied at Olmütz University before entering the Augustinian monastery at Brünn (now Brno in the Czech Republic) in 1843. His childhood experience of horticultural work as the son of a peasant farmer had given him an interest in the role of hybrids in evolution, and in 1856 he began plant-breeding experiments. He studied seven characters in pea plants and obtained important results after much laborious recording of character ratios in the progeny of crosses. From his experiments Mendel concluded that each of the characters he studied was determined by two factors of inheritance (one from each parent) and that each gamete (egg or sperm cell) of the organism contained only one factor of each pair. Furthermore he deduced that assortment into gametes of the factors for one character occurred independently of that for the factors of any other pair. Mendel's results are summarized today in his law of segregation and law of independent assortment (Mendel's laws).
Mendel's work is now recognized as providing the first mathematical basis to genetics but in its day it stimulated little interest. He read a brief account of his research to the Brünn Natural History Society in 1865 and asked members to extend his methods to other species, but none did. In 1866 he published his work in the society's Verhandlungen (Proceedings), a journal distributed to 134 scientific institutions, and sent reprints of the paper to hybridization ‘experts’ of the time. Karl Naegeli, the Swiss botanist, was skeptical of his results and suggested that he continue work on the hawkweeds (Hieracium), a genus now known to show reproductive irregularities and with which Mendel was bound to fail.
Mendel's work with peas, and later with Matthiola, Zea, andMirabilis, had shown that characters do not blend on crossing but retain their identity, thus providing an answer to the weakness in Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection. Mendel read a copy of Darwin's Origin of Species, but unfortunately, Darwin never heard of Mendel's work.
Mendel became abbot of the monastery in 1868 and thereafter found less time to devote to his research. It was not until 1900, when Hugo de Vries, Karl Correns, and Erich von Tschermak came across his work, that its true value was realized.

Scientists. . 2011.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Mendel,Gregor Johann — Men·del (mĕnʹdl), Gregor Johann. 1822 1884. Austrian botanist and founder of the science of genetics. Through experiments with plants, chiefly garden peas, he discovered the principle of the inheritance of characteristics through the combination… …   Universalium

  • Mendel, Gregor (Johann) — born July 22, 1822, Heinzendorf, Austria died Jan. 6, 1884, Brünn, Austria Hungary Austrian botanist and plant experimenter. He became an Augustinian monk in 1843 and later studied at the University of Vienna. In 1856, working in his monastery s… …   Universalium

  • Mendel, Gregor (Johann) — (22 jul. 1822, Heinzendorf, Austria–6 ene. 1884, Brünn, Austria Hungría). Botánico y experimentador con plantas austríaco. Se ordenó monje agustino en 1843 y después estudió en la Universidad de Viena. En 1856, mientras trabajaba en el jardín del …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Mendel, Gregor Johann —  (1822–1884) Austrian botanist whose work became the basis of modern genetics …   Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors

  • Gregor Johann Mendel — Gregor Mendel Johann Gregor Mendel (* 22. Juli 1822 in Heinzendorf bei Odrau, Österreichisch Schlesien; † 6. Januar 1884 in Brünn) war Augustiner und Naturforscher. Die meisten seiner Publikationen behandeln meteorologische Themen. Er war… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Mendel, Gregor — ▪ Austrian botanist Introduction in full  Gregor Johann Mendel , original name (until 1843)  Johann Mendel  born July 22, 1822, Heinzendorf, Austria [now Hynčice, Czech Rep.] died Jan. 6, 1884, Brünn, Austria Hungary [now Brno, Czech Rep.]… …   Universalium

  • Mendel — Gregor Johann …   Scientists

  • Mendel's — Mendel , Gregor Johann …   Scientists

  • Gregor Mendel — Gregor Johann Mendel (Geburtsname Johann Mendel[1], * 20. Juli 1822[2] in Heinzendorf (heute Ortsteil von Vražné) bei Odrau, Österreichisch Schlesien; † 6. Januar 1884 in …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Gregor Mendel — «Mendel» redirige aquí. Para el colegio mayor, véase Colegio Mayor Universitario Mendel. Gregor Mendel Nacimiento 20 de julio de 1822 Heinzendorf, Imperio Au …   Wikipedia Español

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”