History of Genetics

 

• Mid 1800s: Gregor Mendel bred pea plants. He observed how “units” (now genes) passed down from parents to offspring to determine their characteristics.

 

• Late 1800s: Chromosomes discovered by observing cell division  

 

• Early 1900s: Scientists realised that “units” and chromosomes behaved in similar ways thus leading to the idea that genes are found on chromosomes

 

• Mid-1900s: Both DNA structure and gene function worked out

 

All of this work was done by many scientists and ultimately led to the ‘Gene Theory’ being developed.