A century of genetics

Abstract

In 1866, Gregor Mendel published his experiments on heredity in the garden pea (Pisum sativum). The fundamental principles of inheritance derived from his work apply to nearly all eukaryotic species and are now known as Mendelian principles. Since 1900, Mendel has been recognized as the founder of genetics. In 1900, three botanists, Carl Correns, Hugo De Vries, and Erich Tschermack von Seysenegg, had independently completed experiments that were similar to Mendel’s, although much less extensive. When searching the literature, all three encountered Mendel’s paper and realized that he had described the principles of inheritance and the experimental data to confirm them 34 years earlier. With their rediscovery, the science of genetics was born in 1900 along with the 20th century. William Bateson coined the term "genetics" and was the person most responsible for establishing the new science in the first decade of the 20th century.

Parent Publication

• Shrubland ecosystem genetics and biodiversity: proceedings

Citation

Fairbanks, Daniel J. 2001. A century of genetics. In: McArthur, E. Durant; Fairbanks, Daniel J., comps. Shrubland ecosystem genetics and biodiversity: proceedings; 2000 June 13-15; Provo, UT. Proc. RMRS-P-21. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 42-46.