Surio, Arvie G.

2009 10315

June 20, 2013 Essay #1 Gregor Mendel : The Father of Modern Genetics

Born on July, 1822, Gregor Johann Mendel, famously known as Gregor Mendel, was an Augustinian monk, scientist, and teacher. He was born as Johann Mendel to Anton and Rosine Mendel, a family of farmers in Heinzendorf, Austria. At a very young age, he was seen with unique academic abilities which encourage his family to continually support his pursuit of higher education. Throughout his years in school, he excelled academically and graduated with full honors. He entered the Augustinian monastery in 1843, where he acquired the name Gregor. It was then that he was exposed to intensive researches, the teachings of the monastery, and was given access to the monasterys library and experimental laboratory. In 1849, he got ill with the exhaustion cause by his community works. He was then sent to teach in Znaim but failed to pass a teaching certification the following year. However, he was given a chance to continue his studies in sciences when he was sent to the University of Vienna where he studied mathematics and physics with Christian Doppler, and botany under Franz Unger. After finishing his studies in 1853, Mendel goes back to the monastery, teaches in secondary school and started his experiments for which he was known for, the Laws of Heredity. In 1865, he was able to hand over a copy of his findings to the Natural Sciences Society which was published the following year under the title Experiments in Plant Hybrids. He was elected abbot of the school in 1868 which kept him, together with his failing eyesight, from pursuing any scientific study. At the age of 62, Mendel died on January

6, 1884 and was laid in the burial plot of the monastery. His works has basically went unrecognized until the early 20th century, but no matter how long it took, just like what he said, My scientific studies have afforded me great gratification; and I am convinced that it will not be long before the whole world ack nowledges the results of my work. ( Gregor Mendel. biography. http://www.biography.com ) Mendels interest on doing researches was triggered by his innate love of nature. He observes and eventually became curious on how plants acquired unusual characteristics. With his daily stroll to the monasterys garden, he saw a different variety of ornamental plant and planted it near the common variety, expecting to see if there will be any changes in the characteristics of its offspring base on Lamarcks views about the influence of the environment to plants. This shift becomes the foundation to the idea of heredity. ( Gregor Mendel (1822-1884). Seung Yon Rhee. http://www.accessexcellence.org ) Mendel picked to use common garden pea plants for its many distinct varieties, and that he could observe patterns of inheritance quickly because of its rapid and easier reproduction. Pea plants can be grown in large quantities and its reproduction can be altered as well. He crossed peas of differing characteristics and come up with 2 best conclusions: the Law of Segregation, which states that half of each trait is being transferred by a parent to its offspring with certain factors that are dominant over others (recessive), and the Law of Independent Assortment, which states that traits are passed on intact and independently, meaning they do not combine with other hereditary factors. He also put forth to consideration that this heredity followed essential statistical rules, and that all living things have such traits even though his experimental basis is limited

only with the use of pea plants. (Experiments and Theories. Gregor Mendel.biography. http://www.biography.com ) Mendels work became the basis for further studies of modern genetics and genetic inheritance. No doubt that the true worth of his theory has proven its place in the scientific community most especially now with the emergence of diseases that are believed to be inherited, and that descent is seen to be a growing factor on the probability of transferring hereditary disease. Genetic study opened so much for us, from animal cloning to culturing plants; aiming for unique feature that is not only for the sake of science but for the thorough development of the life process itself. (Gregor Mendel (1822-1884). Seung Yon Rhee. http://www.accessexcellence.org ) His findings do not simply change the way we see the world, he also changed the way we live in it, perceive things and understand the uniqueness of our body system and our existence. With the role and contributions now of his study, Gregor Johann Mendel truly deserves to be the Father of Modern Genetics.