Gregor Johann Mendel (1822–1884) was a clergyman and researcher who lived in the Moravian region of the Austrian Empire in the mid-19th century. Through his hybridization experiments with pea plants, he obtained quantitative data on the transmission of hereditary traits across generations and defined several fundamental principles of inheritance based on this data. In his studies, he used mathematical methods and systematic observations. These studies later became one of the foundational references in the development of genetic science. Mendel also showed interest in experimental botany, meteorology, and beekeeping.
Early Life and Education
Gregor Johann Mendel was born on July 20, 1822, in the village of Heinzendorf, located in the Moravian region, then part of the Austrian Empire (present-day Czech Republic). Although baptismal records indicate his birth date as July 20, Mendel himself stated his birthday as July 22. He grew up in a German-speaking environment and came from a rural family engaged in farming. His family cultivated fruit trees and practiced beekeeping.
He completed his primary education at the village school, where he learned agricultural practices, including seed selection and seedling cultivation. Recognized by his teachers as a successful student, he was sent to school in Lipník nad Bečvou in 1833 and then to the Gymnasium in Opava in 1834. During his education, he faced financial difficulties and gave private lessons to support himself. Between 1834 and 1840, Mendel studied at the Gymnasium and, upon graduation, enrolled at the Institute of Philosophy in Olomouc (now Palacký University) for higher education. There, he took courses in philosophy, ethics, mathematics, physics, and pedagogy. During this period, he fell ill and had to return to his family for a short time. After resuming his studies, he completed the required courses for graduation with support from his family and sisters.
In 1843, he joined the Augustinian Monastery in Brno, where he took the name "Gregor." The monastery provided an environment open to scientific inquiry. In his first year there, he took agricultural courses and acquired practical knowledge about apple and grape cultivation. He also had the opportunity to work with botanical and mineralogy collections. During this time, alongside classical theology, he developed an interest in the natural sciences.
From 1851 to 1853, he studied at the University of Vienna. During this period, he took courses in experimental physics, mathematics, and plant physiology from Christian Doppler, Andreas von Ettingshausen, and Franz Unger, respectively. The knowledge he gained on combinations and probability theories became crucial in the methods he later used in his plant hybridization experiments. After completing his university education, Mendel returned to Brno in 1853 and continued teaching physics and natural history as a substitute teacher.
Career and Scientific Work
After returning to the monastery in Brno in 1853 following his studies at the University of Vienna, Gregor Johann Mendel began his experimental research around1854 on the transmission of hereditary traits through hybridization in plants. His work was primarily based on systematic crossbreeding experiments with pea (Pisum) plants. The data obtained from these experiments were presented in two sessions of the Natural Science Society of Brno in 1865 and published in 1866 in the society's journal under the title “Versuche über Pflanzen-Hybriden” (“Experiments in Plant Hybrids”).
In his experiments, Mendel examined the transmission of traits individually and quantitatively, focusing on easily observable characteristics (such as seed color and shape). He designed his experiments by numerically recording individuals representing each trait and analyzed the results using statistical methods. In his study, he hypothesized that hereditary traits are carried by specific “units” (later called "genes") and that these units are randomly passed from parents to offspring. His article explaining the basic principles of inheritance was translated into English in 1902 by British zoologist William Bateson as “Mendel’s Principles of Heredity: A Defense.” Bateson was also the first to use the term "genetics" in 1905 and organized the first international genetics congress in London in 1906.
In 1868, Mendel was elected abbot of the monastery, a role he held until the end of his life. This position significantly limited the time he could devote to research. Nevertheless, he remained interested in beekeeping and established an apiary in the monastery garden. He also engaged in meteorology, making regular weather observations and recording data on sunspots. In 1870, he scientifically described a storm that occurred in Brno.
Later Years and Death
Mendel’s health began to deteriorate in his final years. After a short illness, he died of kidney disease on January 6, 1884, in Brno. Some of his official documents and correspondence were preserved in the monastery archives following his death.
