b"EDITORS MESSAGEWERE ALL PEAS IN A PODsons, one because there were many dis- else: his methodical hypothesis testing tinct varieties, but also because of theand applying mathematical models in a ease of culture and control of pollination.rigorous way to the study of biological He looked at seven different characteris- inheritance. Based on his first exper-tics in peas, including plant height, seediments where plants differed in one colour and whether the seeds were wrin- characteristic, he then formed statisti-kly or smooth. cal predictions about how traits would The genetic experiments for whichinherit. Which he would then test in more he is so famous for, took him eight yearscomplex experiments of plants that dif-(1856-1863), and during these years,fered in two or more characteristics. This Mendel grew over 10,000 pea plants, keep- method of developing statistical expec-ing track of various characteristics. Hetations about inheritance data may be published his results in 1865, but unfortu- one of the most significant contributions nately for Mendel, his work and his LawsMendel made.of Inheritance were not appreciated in hisWe now know that not all organisms time. It wasn't until 1900, after the redis- pass on their genes in the same way as covery of his Laws, that his experimentalthe garden pea. But many do indeed show results were understood. similar inheritance patterns compared Through his work on pea plants, heto the ones described by Mendel. To this discovered the fundamental laws of inher- day, scientists use Mendel's principles Marcel Bruins itance. He deduced that genes come into explain the most basic phenomena of pairs and are inherited as distinct units,inheritance. O n 20 July 2022, it will be 200 yearsone from each parent. Mendel trackedIt was through Mendels insights that since Gregor Mendel was born,the segregation of parental genes andwe were able to greatly expand our under-and this is reason to celebrate! their appearance in the offspring as dom- standing of the complexities of genetic Interesting fact: the father of genet- inant or recessive traits. He recognizedinheritance. And that understanding led ics did not start off with Gregor in itsthe mathematical patterns of inheritanceto the development of new experimental name, that came later on. But more onfrom one generation to the next. Mendelsmethods, more efficient plant breeding, that in a bit. He was born as JohannLaws of Heredity are usually stated as: and much better plant varieties. Mendel in 1822 in a small village in the1) The Law of Segregation: EachPlant breeders all around the world Austrian Empire. The Mendel familyinherited trait is defined by a gene pair.will continue to develop higher yielding owned a small farm, and Johann spentParental genes are randomly separated toplant varieties, with better resistances to his early years in a rural setting. Histhe sex cells so that sex cells contain onlypests and diseases, higher nutritional con-passion for plants and nature manifestedone gene of the pair. Offspring thereforetent, drought tolerance, and much more. itself early on, as he worked as a gardenerinherit one genetic allele from each parentIm sure that in July 2022 there will and studied beekeeping in his childhood.when sex cells unite in fertilization. be many celebrations for the father of Mendel joined the Faculty of Philosophy2)TheLawofIndependentgenetics. It is quite the milestone, and of University of Olomouc in the CzechAssortment: Genes for different traits aremany will reflect on how important the Republic. He excelled in his studies, espe- sorted separately from one another so thatunderstanding of genetics is, and how cially in physics and mathematics.the inheritance of one trait is not depend- much progress we have made since then. Instead of taking over the familyent on the inheritance of another. It is safe to say that the impact Mendels farm, Mendel decided to be a monk, and3) The Law of Dominance: An organ- teachings have had in the past two centu-he enrolled with the Augustinian Order ofism with alternate forms of a gene willries can hardly be overestimated. As we St Thomas in Brno, Moravia. It was hereexpress the form that is dominant. have a myriad of challenges to stave off, that he was given the name Gregor. And nowadays, whenever geneticthe teachings of Mendel will continue to In 1854, the abbot allowed Gregor totraits follow the rules of inheritance thatbe direly needed for centuries to come. conduct experiments on the transmissionMendel proposed, we call that Mendelian of hereditary characters in plants in theinheritance, no matter the organism. Marcel Bruinsmonasterys two-hectare garden. MendelApart from his pea data that he pre- editorial director, European Seedchoose to work on pea, for several rea- sented, we must thank him for somethingmbruins@seedworldgroup.com4IEUROPEAN SEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COM"