Mendel's Principles of Inheritance and Experimental Design

Vocabulary flashcards defining key historical figures, terminology, and experimental concepts from Mendel's work in genetics.

Johan Mendel

A scientist born in 1822 in Hinsis who discovered the basic principles of genetic transmission through his experiments with pea plants.

Olomoucz Philosophical Institute

The institution where Mendel began his higher education in 1840 before entering the priesthood at Saint Thomas monastery in 1843.

Saint Thomas Monastery

The monastery in Brno, Czech Republic, where Mendel fulfilled teaching duties, conducted genetics experiments, and became abbot in 1868.

Professor Franz Unger

A professor at the University of Vienna who taught Mendel plant physiology and plant biology, encouraging critical evaluation of prevailing theories of plant reproduction and hybridization.

Professor Christian Doppler

An experimental physicist at the University of Vienna who taught Mendel a particulate view of physics and how to isolate and study individual characteristics in experiments.

Professor Andreas von Eddinghausen

The successor to Christian Doppler at the University of Vienna who taught Mendel combinatorial mathematics and the analysis of finite or countable sets of numbers.

Combinatorial Mathematics

The analysis of finite or countable sets of numbers, a branch of mathematics essential to probability theory that Mendel integrated into his genetic analyses.

Pisum sativum

The species of edible pea plant used by Mendel in his genetic experiments due to its distinct traits and natural self-fertilization.

Dichotomous Traits

Traits that possess two easily distinguished forms of expression in a seed or plant.

Natural History Society of Bruin

The society in Brno where Mendel presented his experimental findings on February 8 and March 8, 1865, and which published his report in 1866.

Carl Negely

A prominent European botanist who corresponded with Mendel but failed to recognize the significance of Mendel's work and conclusions.

Anther

The male reproductive structure of a pea plant flower that produces pollen.

Ovule

The female reproductive structure of a pea plant flower containing the egg that matures inside the ovary.

Artificial Cross Fertilization

A manual technique where an experimenter removes anthers from a flower to prevent self-pollen production and transfers pollen from another plant using a paintbrush.

Blending Theory of Heredity

The historical theory positing that offspring traits are an intermediate mixture or blend of parental characteristics.

Scientific Method

A six-step hypothesis-driven experimental approach involving initial observations, testable hypotheses, controlled experiments, data collection, interpretation, and drawing conclusions.

Self Fertilization

A reproductive process occurring in nature when sperm-containing pollen from the anther fertilizes an egg within the ovule of the same plant.