Gregor Mendel

Q: Who was Gregor Mendel?

Gregor Mendel was an Austrian scientist, teacher, and Augustinian prelate who lived in the 1800s. He experimented on garden pea hybrids while living at a monastery and is known as the father of modern genetics .

Q: Why is Gregor Mendel famous?

Through his careful breeding of garden peas, Gregor Mendel discovered the basic principles of heredity and laid the mathematical foundation of the science of genetics . He formulated several basic genetic laws, including the law of segregation, the law of dominance, and the law of independent assortment, in what became known as Mendelian inheritance .

botanist

Also known as: Gregor Johann Mendel, Johann Mendel

Written by Robert Olby

Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Jul 18, 2023 • Article History

Gregor Mendel

See all media

Category: History & Society

Born:: Czech Republic

Died:: July 20, 1822 January 6, 1884 Brno Czech Republic

Subjects Of Study:: plant Mendelian inheritance heredity principle of independent assortment principle of segregation

See all related content →

Who was Gregor Mendel?

Why is Gregor Mendel famous?

Gregor Mendel, in full Gregor Johann Mendel, original name (until 1843) Johann Mendel, (born July 20, 1822, Heinzendorf, Silesia, Austrian Empire [now Hynčice, Czech Republic]—died January 6, 1884, Brünn, Austria-Hungary [now Brno, Czech Republic]), botanist, teacher, and Augustinian prelate, the first person to lay the mathematical foundation of the science of genetics, in what came to be called Mendelism. Born to a family with limited means in German-speaking Silesia, Mendel was raised in a rural setting. His academic abilities were recognized by the local priest, who persuaded his parents to send him away to school at the age of 11. ...(100 of 1947 words)

Access the full article

Help support true facts by becoming a member.