Mendel and the Gene Splicers

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Description

Darwin's theory of natural selection paved the way for the field of genetics. But the concept of a gene didn't exist in Darwin's time, and it was several more decades before science could clearly show how an organism passes characteristics on to its offspring. This program spotlights the life and work of Gregor Mendel, an Augustinian monk living in what is today the Czech Republic - and the father of modern genetic science. The film follows Mendel's studies of the reproduction of pea plants in his monastery garden, studies which noted the effects of cross-breeding on flower color, pod color, and pod shape; his awareness that, while only one "factor" or genetic characteristic may be visibly inherited, others lie dormant and can reappear in later generations; and the scant recognition given his work following its 1866 publication and its eventual acceptance in the early 20th century. Host Adam Hart-Davis also examines the diverse ramifications of Mendel's achievements, from the mapping of the human genome to the controversy over genetic modification.