Mendelian Genetics

Mendelian genetics is the study of how traits are inherited through generations, based on the work of Gregor Mendel in the 19th century. He discovered that traits are controlled by discrete units called genes, which come in pairs—one from each parent. Mendel established key principles: dominance, where one gene can mask another; segregation, where gene pairs separate during reproduction; and independent assortment, where different traits are inherited independently. His findings laid the foundation for modern genetics, explaining how characteristics like eye color or height can be passed down and how variations arise within a species.