Mendel's Principles of Heredity

Introduction to Mendel and Darwin

Six years after Charles Darwin announced his theory of evolution to the world, Gregor Mendel began studying the inheritance of traits in pea plants. Mendel's research led to his discovery of dominant and recessive traits and other facts of evolution, which he reported in his groundbreaking 1865 paper, Experiments in Plant Hybridization.

Historical Significance

His findings languished until 1902, when William Bateson revived interest in the subject with this book, a succinct account of Mendel's heredity-related discoveries. Bateson coined the term "genetics" to refer to heredity and inherited traits, and his rediscovery of Mendel's work forms the foundation of today's field of genetics.

Book Details and Content

Suitable for biology and general science students at the undergraduate and graduate levels, this volume is essential reading for anyone with an interest in science and genetics. In addition to Bateson's commentary, it features two of Mendel's papers— including the original Experiments— plus a biography of Mendel, a detailed bibliography, and indexes of subjects and authors. Numerous figures complement the text, along with eight pages of color illustrations.