“Who discovered genetics?”
One of the most significant figures in the history of genetics is Gregor Mendel, an Augustinian monk and scientist who is considered the father of modern genetics.
In the mid-19th century, Mendel conducted experiments with pea plants and discovered the basic principles of heredity, including the fact that traits are inherited in a predictable way and that they are determined by genes. Through studying these pea plants, he also developed an understanding of dominant and recessive genes.
Other key figures in the history of genetics include Thomas Hunt Morgan, who discovered the role of chromosomes in heredity; James Watson and Francis Crick, who discovered the structure of DNA; and Rosalind Franklin, whose work contributed to the understanding of the structure of DNA.
Learn more about this with our series “Getting Into Your Genes”
DNA is the code of life. And it’s the DNA in your genes that determines the traits that make you who and what you are. Our genes are unique but with so many scientific advancements, what have we learnt about ourselves from our genes?
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Prof. Giles Yeo
We all know that genes provide the blueprint for life. They're the code written into our DNA, but can they also predict our future? What can we learn from our genes?
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Prof. Giles Yeo
If you inherit your genes from your parents do they determine your entire life? Genes are the building blocks of life and as technology in gene editing intensifies can or should we change our genes?
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Prof. Giles Yeo
The basic truth of dieting holds true, to lose weight, you have to burn more energy than you eat. What role do our genes play in influencing what we like to eat? And what affect do genes have on body weight?
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Prof. Giles Yeo
According to the World Obesity Federation it is estimated that over 1 billion will be affected by obesity by 2025. Does obesity lie within our control? What impact do genes have on our appetite and body weight?
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