Johann Gregor Mendel
- Born:
- July 20, 1822, Heinzendorf bei Odrau, Austrian Empire (now Hynčice, Czech Republic)
- Died:
- January 6, 1884, Brünn, Austria-Hungary (now Brno, Czech Republic)
- Nationality:
- Austrian
- Profession(s):
- Augustinian Friar, Biologist, Meteorologist, Mathematician, Botanist
Early Life and Education
- Born to Anton and Rosina Mendel in a German-speaking family.
- Showed academic aptitude early, receiving support from his local priest.
- Studied philosophy at the Philosophical Institute of Olmütz.
- Entered the Augustinian Abbey of St. Thomas in Brünn (now Brno) in 1843.
- Ordained as a priest in 1847.
- Studied physics, mathematics, and natural sciences at the University of Vienna (1851-1853).
Career and Major Achievements
- Served as a substitute teacher in Znaim (now Znojmo) and later at the Brünn Modern School.
- Began his groundbreaking experiments on pea plants (Pisum sativum) in 1856 in the abbey garden.
- Conducted experiments for eight years, meticulously documenting the inheritance patterns of various traits.
- Presented his findings in two lectures to the Natural Science Society in Brünn in 1865.
- Published his work, "Experiments on Plant Hybridization" ("Versuche über Pflanzen-Hybriden"), in 1866 in the Society's proceedings. This publication effectively forms the basis of what some might call a 'gregor mendel biography riassunto promessi'.
- Elected Abbot of the Abbey of St. Thomas in 1868.
- Focused on administrative duties as abbot, limiting his scientific research.
Notable Works
- Experiments on Plant Hybridization (Versuche über Pflanzen-Hybriden): Published in 1866, outlining his laws of inheritance.
Legacy and Impact
Mendel's work, initially ignored, was rediscovered in 1900 by Hugo de Vries, Carl Correns, and Erich von Tschermak independently, leading to the foundation of modern genetics. His laws of segregation and independent assortment are fundamental principles in biology, revolutionizing our understanding of heredity.