Mary Allen
Introduction: The discovery of DNA
The discovery of the function of DNA is one of the most important scientific breakthroughs of the 20th century. DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the molecule that carries the genetic instructions used in the growth, development, functioning, and reproduction of all known organisms. The discovery of DNA’s function has led to a better understanding of how life works and has revolutionized fields such as medicine, genetics, and biotechnology.
Gregor Mendel and the laws of inheritance
The study of genetics began with the work of Gregor Mendel in the 19th century. Mendel was a monk who conducted experiments on pea plants and discovered the laws of inheritance. He found that traits were passed down from parents to offspring in predictable patterns, and that these traits were determined by discrete units of inheritance which he called “factors”. Mendel’s work laid the foundation for the study of genetics and provided the framework for understanding how DNA works.