variation and evolution - Mendel and genetics

Question 1

how did the work of Mendel Gregor help us to understand genetics?

Answer 1

• in middle of 1800s, he carried out thousands of breeding experiments on pea plants. at the time scientists did understand inheritance and thought characteristics were blended when inherited. Mendel looked at different characteristics (colour, shape).
• he realised characteristics aren’t blended in inheritance (shape doesn’t affect colour). he said characteristics are inherited determined units and these units do not change when passed onto descendants. now called genes
• he showed characteristics could be masked and then reappear in future generations. now call these recessive alleles

Question 2

how did people react initially to Mendel’s discovery?

Answer 2

when he published his work in scientific paper, scientists held onto idea that characteristics were blended when inherited so didn’t understand Mendel had made a major discovery + it was soon forgotten.

Question 3

why is it important that Mendel’s discovery wasn’t recognised until after his death?

Answer 3

late1800s, scientists looked at his chromosomes behave during cell division. around same time, Mendel works rediscovered. they then realised his units behaved in a similar way to chromosomes. by this time, Mendel’s units renamed as genes and these located on chromosomes. then mid 1900s, structure of DNA determined and how genes function