today I’m gonna tell you a story about the father of genetics Gregor Mendel and
the father of genetics Gregor Mendel and
the father of genetics Gregor Mendel and how he persevered and rose above his
how he persevered and rose above his
how he persevered and rose above his challenges to found a whole new field of
challenges to found a whole new field of
challenges to found a whole new field of biology this is a story about finding
biology this is a story about finding
biology this is a story about finding your particle your uniqueness and rising
your particle your uniqueness and rising
your particle your uniqueness and rising above the small things to have a really
above the small things to have a really
above the small things to have a really big impact Gregor Mendel was born
big impact Gregor Mendel was born
big impact Gregor Mendel was born Johan Mendel in 1822 and grew up on his
Johan Mendel in 1822 and grew up on his
Johan Mendel in 1822 and grew up on his family’s farm and what was then the
family’s farm and what was then the
family’s farm and what was then the Austrian Empire and is now the Czech
Austrian Empire and is now the Czech
Austrian Empire and is now the Czech Republic one of Mendel’s favorite tasks
Republic one of Mendel’s favorite tasks
Republic one of Mendel’s favorite tasks on the farm was to help his father tend
on the farm was to help his father tend
on the farm was to help his father tend the orchard one of the jobs in the
the orchard one of the jobs in the
the orchard one of the jobs in the orchard was to graph new plants to make
orchard was to graph new plants to make
orchard was to graph new plants to make new varieties I don’t know if you’ve
new varieties I don’t know if you’ve
new varieties I don’t know if you’ve ever tried to graft plants before but
ever tried to graft plants before but
ever tried to graft plants before but it’s highly technical work you have to
it’s highly technical work you have to
it’s highly technical work you have to cut the root of one plant and then you
cut the root of one plant and then you
cut the root of one plant and then you cut the top of another plant then you
cut the top of another plant then you
cut the top of another plant then you have to stick them together in just the
have to stick them together in just the
have to stick them together in just the right way so that you don’t kill the new
right way so that you don’t kill the new
right way so that you don’t kill the new plant Mendel learn how to do this at an
plant Mendel learn how to do this at an
plant Mendel learn how to do this at an early age and appreciated precision
early age and appreciated precision
early age and appreciated precision technique and attention to detail
technique and attention to detail
technique and attention to detail early on Mendel enjoyed science but his
early on Mendel enjoyed science but his
early on Mendel enjoyed science but his family was not rich he couldn’t afford
family was not rich he couldn’t afford
family was not rich he couldn’t afford it to be a scientist to be able to
it to be a scientist to be able to
it to be a scientist to be able to continue his studies in Sciences he was
continue his studies in Sciences he was
continue his studies in Sciences he was advised to join a monastery he became a
advised to join a monastery he became a
advised to join a monastery he became a priest but he didn’t really enjoy being
priest but he didn’t really enjoy being
priest but he didn’t really enjoy being a parish priest so he decided to teach
a parish priest so he decided to teach
a parish priest so he decided to teach high school then as now you have to get
high school then as now you have to get
high school then as now you have to get a teaching certificate to be qualified
a teaching certificate to be qualified
a teaching certificate to be qualified to teach and to get that certificate you
to teach and to get that certificate you
to teach and to get that certificate you have to take a test Mendel failed his
have to take a test Mendel failed his
have to take a test Mendel failed his teaching exam you can imagine that
teaching exam you can imagine that
teaching exam you can imagine that that’s done no one likes to fail no one
that’s done no one likes to fail no one
that’s done no one likes to fail no one likes to have their life plans to railed
likes to have their life plans to railed
likes to have their life plans to railed so the monastery paid for him to go to
so the monastery paid for him to go to
so the monastery paid for him to go to the University of Vienna to get extra
the University of Vienna to get extra
the University of Vienna to get extra training in physics chemistry and
training in physics chemistry and
training in physics chemistry and biology you can imagine that he really
biology you can imagine that he really
biology you can imagine that he really studied hard and paid a lot of attention
studied hard and paid a lot of attention
studied hard and paid a lot of attention to what he was learning he did not want
to what he was learning he did not want
to what he was learning he did not want to fail again fast forward a few years
to fail again fast forward a few years
to fail again fast forward a few years to when Mendel was at the Abbey he
to when Mendel was at the Abbey he
to when Mendel was at the Abbey he decided to look at heredity at that time
decided to look at heredity at that time
decided to look at heredity at that time the blending hypothesis was the accepted
the blending hypothesis was the accepted
the blending hypothesis was the accepted theory for heredity it stated that
theory for heredity it stated that
theory for heredity it stated that offspring are a blend of traits from
offspring are a blend of traits from
offspring are a blend of traits from their parents and this made sense to
their parents and this made sense to
their parents and this made sense to people if parents have a child that
people if parents have a child that
people if parents have a child that child doesn’t look exactly like either
child doesn’t look exactly like either
child doesn’t look exactly like either of their parents but rather they’re a
of their parents but rather they’re a
of their parents but rather they’re a blend of traits from both parents you
blend of traits from both parents you
blend of traits from both parents you get your blonde hair from your mom
get your blonde hair from your mom
get your blonde hair from your mom your athleticism your dad and over time
your athleticism your dad and over time
your athleticism your dad and over time in future generations the blonde hair
in future generations the blonde hair
in future generations the blonde hair might get lost and so you could lose
might get lost and so you could lose
might get lost and so you could lose traits over time the problem with that
traits over time the problem with that
traits over time the problem with that theory was that no one had looked at
theory was that no one had looked at
theory was that no one had looked at this trait by train people looked at an
this trait by train people looked at an
this trait by train people looked at an organism as the whole and looked over
organism as the whole and looked over
organism as the whole and looked over maybe one or two generations and so
maybe one or two generations and so
maybe one or two generations and so blonde hair might pop up again after
blonde hair might pop up again after
blonde hair might pop up again after five generations but scientists weren’t
five generations but scientists weren’t
five generations but scientists weren’t looking that far out so that’s where
looking that far out so that’s where
looking that far out so that’s where things stood when Mendel’s decided to
things stood when Mendel’s decided to
things stood when Mendel’s decided to start his experiments he decided to look
start his experiments he decided to look
start his experiments he decided to look over many generations and look at just
over many generations and look at just
over many generations and look at just one trait at a time he eventually looked
one trait at a time he eventually looked
one trait at a time he eventually looked at two traits but the point is he
at two traits but the point is he
at two traits but the point is he started simple one thing at a time
started simple one thing at a time
started simple one thing at a time so he started planting peace and paid
so he started planting peace and paid
so he started planting peace and paid attention to their properties he looked
attention to their properties he looked
attention to their properties he looked at things like pea plant height if you
at things like pea plant height if you
at things like pea plant height if you mated to Paul tall plants what did their
mated to Paul tall plants what did their
mated to Paul tall plants what did their offspring look like what did their
offspring look like what did their
offspring look like what did their grandchildren look like how tall were
grandchildren look like how tall were
grandchildren look like how tall were they Mendel asif decided to look at
they Mendel asif decided to look at
they Mendel asif decided to look at flower color seed shape seed color
flower color seed shape seed color
flower color seed shape seed color flower placement pea pod shape and color
flower placement pea pod shape and color
flower placement pea pod shape and color the point being that he looked at each
the point being that he looked at each
the point being that he looked at each of these things one at a time rather
of these things one at a time rather
of these things one at a time rather than looking at all seven at once in all
than looking at all seven at once in all
than looking at all seven at once in all Mendel planet around 30,000 people ants
Mendel planet around 30,000 people ants
Mendel planet around 30,000 people ants and so let’s appreciate that number for
and so let’s appreciate that number for
and so let’s appreciate that number for a minute 30,000 people ants and it’s not
a minute 30,000 people ants and it’s not
a minute 30,000 people ants and it’s not just that he planted 30,000 people ants
just that he planted 30,000 people ants
just that he planted 30,000 people ants he also kept track of the grandparents
he also kept track of the grandparents
he also kept track of the grandparents the parents the children and so on the
the parents the children and so on the
the parents the children and so on the bookkeeping alone is amazing not only
bookkeeping alone is amazing not only
bookkeeping alone is amazing not only did he have to keep track of the family
did he have to keep track of the family
did he have to keep track of the family trees for his pea plants but he also
trees for his pea plants but he also
trees for his pea plants but he also took detail
took detail
took detail notes on those seven traits the pea
notes on those seven traits the pea
notes on those seven traits the pea plant height flower color seed shape
plant height flower color seed shape
plant height flower color seed shape color pod shape and color and flower
color pod shape and color and flower
color pod shape and color and flower placement he had to be extremely
placement he had to be extremely
placement he had to be extremely organized to keep all of that straight I
organized to keep all of that straight I
organized to keep all of that straight I don’t think I’m as organized as Mendel
don’t think I’m as organized as Mendel
don’t think I’m as organized as Mendel was or as gifted note-taker
was or as gifted note-taker
was or as gifted note-taker but he learned early on in his childhood
but he learned early on in his childhood
but he learned early on in his childhood that precision and attention to detail
that precision and attention to detail
that precision and attention to detail are important lessons and he carried
are important lessons and he carried
are important lessons and he carried those with him
those with him
those with him remember that Mendel had received extra
remember that Mendel had received extra
remember that Mendel had received extra training in physics chemistry and
training in physics chemistry and
training in physics chemistry and biology because he had failed his
biology because he had failed his
biology because he had failed his teaching certification exam in both
teaching certification exam in both
teaching certification exam in both physics and chemistry there are
physics and chemistry there are
physics and chemistry there are particles that we can’t see and those
particles that we can’t see and those
particles that we can’t see and those particles behave in predictable ways
particles behave in predictable ways
particles behave in predictable ways that are governed by natural laws these
that are governed by natural laws these
that are governed by natural laws these particles are things like electrons
particles are things like electrons
particles are things like electrons protons and neutrons and even though we
protons and neutrons and even though we
protons and neutrons and even though we can’t see them we can design experiments
can’t see them we can design experiments
can’t see them we can design experiments to test their properties and to learn
to test their properties and to learn
to test their properties and to learn more about them at the time there
more about them at the time there
more about them at the time there weren’t particles in biology but Mendel
weren’t particles in biology but Mendel
weren’t particles in biology but Mendel reasoned chemistry is particles physics
reasoned chemistry is particles physics
reasoned chemistry is particles physics has particles why not biology he
has particles why not biology he
has particles why not biology he reasoned that the thing that’s getting
reasoned that the thing that’s getting
reasoned that the thing that’s getting passed from parent to offspring were
passed from parent to offspring were
passed from parent to offspring were particles now we know that that thing
particles now we know that that thing
particles now we know that that thing the stuff that gets passed from parent
the stuff that gets passed from parent
the stuff that gets passed from parent to child is DNA but remember this was
to child is DNA but remember this was
to child is DNA but remember this was the mid-1800s scientists couldn’t even
the mid-1800s scientists couldn’t even
the mid-1800s scientists couldn’t even agree that DNA was the heredity
agree that DNA was the heredity
agree that DNA was the heredity information or even what its structure
information or even what its structure
information or even what its structure was until the mid 1950s so at any rate
was until the mid 1950s so at any rate
was until the mid 1950s so at any rate Mendel thought about his traits the pea
Mendel thought about his traits the pea
Mendel thought about his traits the pea height flower color he thought of those
height flower color he thought of those
height flower color he thought of those things as particles that get passed from
things as particles that get passed from
things as particles that get passed from parent to offspring and this was a
parent to offspring and this was a
parent to offspring and this was a radically new way of looking at heredity
radically new way of looking at heredity
radically new way of looking at heredity while he thought about them this way and
while he thought about them this way and
while he thought about them this way and looked at these traits over multiple
looked at these traits over multiple
looked at these traits over multiple generations he could he saw that he
generations he could he saw that he
generations he could he saw that he could start to understand their
could start to understand their
could start to understand their properties and make predictions about
properties and make predictions about
properties and make predictions about their behavior just like the particles
their behavior just like the particles
their behavior just like the particles in physics and chemistry there are also
in physics and chemistry there are also
in physics and chemistry there are also equations that can be written to
equations that can be written to
equations that can be written to describe and predict the behavior of
describe and predict the behavior of
describe and predict the behavior of electrons protons and neutrons so Mendel
electrons protons and neutrons so Mendel
electrons protons and neutrons so Mendel realise reason that the
realise reason that the
realise reason that the must be equations to describe the
must be equations to describe the
must be equations to describe the behavior of his particles in biology so
behavior of his particles in biology so
behavior of his particles in biology so we used math to predict how its
we used math to predict how its
we used math to predict how its hereditary particles must act he
hereditary particles must act he
hereditary particles must act he presented his landmark results in 1865
presented his landmark results in 1865
presented his landmark results in 1865 in 1866 and was largely ignored people
in 1866 and was largely ignored people
in 1866 and was largely ignored people at the time didn’t really understand
at the time didn’t really understand
at the time didn’t really understand what he had done they took one look at
what he had done they took one look at
what he had done they took one look at his paper thought it was too mathy I
his paper thought it was too mathy I
his paper thought it was too mathy I didn’t really try to understand it
didn’t really try to understand it
didn’t really try to understand it Mendel died in 1884 well before genetics
Mendel died in 1884 well before genetics
Mendel died in 1884 well before genetics was ever a branch of biology and he was
was ever a branch of biology and he was
was ever a branch of biology and he was very much underappreciated
very much underappreciated
very much underappreciated it wasn’t until 1900 when three other
it wasn’t until 1900 when three other
it wasn’t until 1900 when three other scientists all working independently in
scientists all working independently in
scientists all working independently in three different countries verified
three different countries verified
three different countries verified Mendel’s results when those scientists
Mendel’s results when those scientists
Mendel’s results when those scientists searched through the literature they
searched through the literature they
searched through the literature they realized they weren’t the first one to
realized they weren’t the first one to
realized they weren’t the first one to make their discoveries about heredity
make their discoveries about heredity
make their discoveries about heredity though rather Mendel had made them 35
though rather Mendel had made them 35
though rather Mendel had made them 35 years earlier Mendel’s story is one
years earlier Mendel’s story is one
years earlier Mendel’s story is one example of an obscure but highly
example of an obscure but highly
example of an obscure but highly innovative person that rose from humble
innovative person that rose from humble
innovative person that rose from humble beginnings and circumstances to be
beginnings and circumstances to be
beginnings and circumstances to be regarded as the father of genetics
regarded as the father of genetics
regarded as the father of genetics I like Mendel’s story because it
I like Mendel’s story because it
I like Mendel’s story because it illustrates several important points
illustrates several important points
illustrates several important points first even the greats fail don’t be
first even the greats fail don’t be
first even the greats fail don’t be afraid to fail you can rise above that
afraid to fail you can rise above that
afraid to fail you can rise above that failure second everything is related
failure second everything is related
failure second everything is related being interdisciplinary is important and
being interdisciplinary is important and
being interdisciplinary is important and third don’t listen to the naysayers your
third don’t listen to the naysayers your
third don’t listen to the naysayers your time will come
time will come
time will come Mendel’s did thank you
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