- Gregor Mendel conducted experiments with pea plants in the 1860s and is considered the founder of genetics. Through his experiments, he discovered the fundamental laws of inheritance.
- Mendel determined that traits are passed from parents to offspring through "factors" that we now know as genes. His laws of inheritance include dominance, segregation, and independent assortment.
- Mendel's work formed the basis for understanding how traits are inherited and laid the foundation for modern genetics.