Mendelian Genetics

Prepared by: DIANA GAJO HINA (Student Teacher)

Many of us wonder why we look similar to our parents, why plants and animals produce their own kind.
Some of your friends would say that your ears and lips are the same as your mother but your skin color
and your height are the same as your father. Well, traits really are inherited from our parents. How did
this happen?

Mendel’s groundbreaking work laid the foundation for our understanding of inheritance and
paved the way for modern genetics research. His discoveries continue to shape our knowledge of
how traits are passed down through generations Mendelian genetics, also known as Mendelism, refers
to a set of principles that explain how hereditary traits are passed from parents to their offspring. These
principles were initially developed by Gregor Johann Mendel, an Austrian monk and botanist, who is
regarded as the father of genetics1. Let’s dive into the key aspects of Mendelian genetics:
1. Law of Segregation:
o In modern terms, this law states that genes are transferred as separate and distinct
units from one generation to the next.
o Each gene pair consists of two members (alleles), one on each of the paired chromosomes.
o During the formation of sex cells (gametes) by a parent organism, these alleles separate.
o As a result, half of the sex cells will carry one form of the gene, and the other half will carry
the other form.
o The offspring resulting from these sex cells will reflect these proportions.
2. Law of Independent Assortment:
o This law states that the alleles of a gene pair located on one pair of chromosomes are
inherited independently of the alleles of a gene pair located on another chromosome pair.
o Sex cells containing various assortments of these genes fuse at random with the sex cells
produced by the other parent.
o This leads to genetic diversity in offspring.

3. Law of Dominance:
o Mendel also developed the concept of dominance.
o He observed that one allele exerts greater influence than the other on the same inherited
character.
 o For example, if a pea plant carries the alleles T and t (T = tallness, t = shortness), the T allele
(and the trait of tallness) is completely dominant.

Mendel’s groundbreaking work laid the foundation for our understanding of inheritance and paved the way for
modern genetics research.