What did Gregor Mendel contribute to evolution?

Answer 1

Mendel's Laws of Inheritance include the following:

1. Law of Segregation - each trait has two copies and each parent gives one copy of the trait to the offspring (proven by meiosis).
2. Law of Independent Assortment - separate genes for separate traits are passed to the offspring independently. One trait selection has nothing to do with another trait selection (not true for "linked" genes).

Answer 2

Gregor Mendel is known as the father of genetics for his work with pea plants, demonstrating heredity through the laws of segregation and independent assortment. His research laid the foundation for understanding how traits are passed from one generation to the next, which is essential in evolutionary Biology. Mendel's work provided crucial insights into the mechanisms of genetic variations and inheritance that are fundamental to the process of evolution.

Answer 3

This scientist's name was Gregor Mendel, not George. His work was done with heredity and genetics, not evolution. However, his discoveries concerning dominant and recessive heredity helped to explain some previously unanswered questions about Darwinian evolution.

Answer 4

Gregor Mendel is commonly regarded as the father of modern genetics. His careful research with peas showed that although characteristics can be hidden they are not usually lost. He also showed that inheritance is by consistent and regular laws of heredity.

Mendel was a contemporary of Darwin, but the importance of his scientific work was not realized until around 1900.

Mendel did not have any 'theory of evolution' and although some might regard his scientific work and its results as being explicitly opposed to evolution, most recognize the usefulness of his explanations of genetics as being fundamental to evolutionary biology. In fact, the "modern synthesis" of the early 20th century incorporated Mendel's ideas into Darwin's theory of evolution.

Answer 5

Mendel's laws deal with the transmission of genes between individuals. Evolution deals with changes in gene frequencies within and between populations. Population genetics, which mathematically analyzes how gene frequencies change over time in populations, is the backbone of evolutionary genetics, and it is based on Mendelian genetics being the transmission mechanism for individuals. So, the statement that Mendel's work "raises great obstacles" to evolutionary theory is simply ignorant and misleading.

Mendelian genetics support evolutionary theory in every way.

Actually, it doesn't. Darwin was unaware of Mendel's theory when he wrote his theory of Evolution (even though they lived at the same time), and because of the strong belief in Darwin's ideas it was not until the early 20'th century that the importance of the Mendelian theory was realized.

The Mendelian theory - because it showed that genes are own entities - raises great obstacles for the Darwinian theory. Natural selection operates on the organism level, rather than the gene level (the whole organism dies, if only one single fatal mutation occurs), which will mean that all the "good" mutations that need to add up during long time will get lost due only to a small number of fatal mutations, which makes it even more impossible for natural selection to give rise to something new which needs adding up of "good mutations".

The concept of "good mutations" - mutations that will be good only when many such mutations have been added together - is itself an erroneous way of thinking, because it builds on teleological reasoning (things get their "meaning" only after something has happened and you see the result) rather than causal reasoning ("cause gives effect"). Teleological reasoning is not rational in a naturalistic framework, because the only thing there is in such a framework is "cause gives effect".

Answer 6

By providing the theory of evolution by natural selection a mechanism of particulate heredity. Mendel showed that his " factors " were independently assorted and discretely segregated as to sex. This showed how trait come down the generations and some trait can disappear and then reappear in later generations.

Answer 7

Firstly do not confuse evolution, which is a fact, with Darwins theory to explain it.
Darwins theory attempts to explain evolution through the process of natural selection.
It adequately explains why and how evolution occurs. A theory does not claim to explain everything about a specific matter but it fits the facts. It can also be used to make proposals and predictions.
Darwins theory best fits the facts.

Answer 8

Gregor Mendel's theory proposed that plant and animals had recessive and dominate genes. The theory established heredity and that genes could be predictable.

Answer 9

1. Law of dominance

2. Law of segregation and

3. Law of independent assortment

Answer 10

The theory is that traits get passed on from generation to generation. Like if your mom or dad is tall you might have that trait too or eye color is another example.