jan 1, 1866 - 1866 : Discovery that certain characteristics are inherited.
Gregor Mendel carried out experiments on peas. He observed that characteristics such as height and colour are passed on from parents to their offspring. He noticed that:
1. Characteristics in plants were determnined by hereditary units (now called genes).
2. Hereditary units are passed on from both parents, one unit from each.
3. Hereditary units are dominant or recessive.
