Gregor Mendel - GCSE Biology Definition

Gregor Mendel was a scientist and monk who is known as the "father of genetics" because of his important discoveries about how traits are passed from parents to offspring. He conducted experiments with pea plants in the 19th century and found that certain characteristics, like flower colour and plant height, are inherited according to specific patterns. Mendel discovered the principles of inheritance, now called "Mendel's Laws," which include the ideas of dominant and recessive traits. His work laid the foundation for the study of genetics, helping us understand how organisms inherit traits and why siblings may look different from each other.