Correct option is B
The correct answer is (b) Gregor Johann Mendel
Gregor Johann Mendel is known as the father of genetics due to his groundbreaking work in understanding inheritance through experiments on pea plants. His research formed the foundation of modern genetics.
Key Features of Mendel’s Contributions:
Laws of Inheritance:
Mendel formulated three fundamental principles:
Law of Dominance
Law of Segregation
Law of Independent Assortment
Experiments on Pea Plants:
Conducted crossbreeding experiments on pea plants (Pisum sativum) to study traits like flower color, seed shape, and plant height.
Observed patterns of inheritance over generations, leading to the discovery of dominant and recessive traits.
Rediscovery:
Although his work was initially ignored, it was rediscovered in the early 20th century, becoming the cornerstone of genetic studies.
Additional Information:
Charles Darwin
Field: Evolutionary Biology
Known As: Father of Evolution
Significant Contributions:
Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection:
Published in On the Origin of Species (1859), Darwin proposed that organisms evolve over generations due to variations that provide survival advantages.
Key Concepts:
Natural Selection: Survival of the fittest; organisms with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce.
Descent with Modification: All species share common ancestors, and changes accumulate over time.
Robert Hooke
Field: Cell Biology, Physics, and Microscopy
Known For: Discovery of the Cell
Significant Contributions:
Discovery of the Cell:
Observed cork tissue under a microscope and coined the term cell in 1665 in his book Micrographia.
Hooke's Law:
Formulated Hooke's Law in physics, which states that the force needed to extend or compress a spring is proportional to the distance stretched.
Contributions to Microscopy:
Made significant improvements to early microscopes, allowing for detailed observation of biological specimens.
James Watson
Field: Molecular Biology
Known For: Discovery of DNA Structure
Significant Contributions:
DNA’s Double Helix Structure:
Co-discovered the double-helix structure of DNA in 1953 with Francis Crick.
Their model explained how genetic information is stored and replicated.
Key Insight:
Base pairing (A-T, G-C) explains DNA replication and transmission of genetic information.