Gregor Mendel (1822 – 1884) was a botanist and monk who lived in what is now called the Czech Republic. He was interested in finding out how changes took place in an organism as it reproduced. He studied the garden pea plant, breeding plants with different coloured flowers, different shapes of seed pod, and other characteristics. Recording the effects, Mendel formulated simple rules that allowed him to predict how many plants would resemble one or both parents, and how many would combine characteristics of each parent.
Mendel’s studies formed the basis of modern genetics. Although he altered some findings to fit with his ideas, his theories are still important to the study of biology.
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