Transmission Genetics

Abstract

Mankind has always been attracted to animals and plants; not only to food or pasture plants, but also to flowers and ornamentals, observing, collecting and multiplying different forms. Gardeners have developed, by accumulated experience, a wide range of varieties with different flavors, colors and shapes, different adaptation ranges, different leaves, etc. Actually, when Gregor Johann Mendel, the “Father of Genetics” conducted his famous studies on the inheritance of various traits in peas (1850s–1860s) he used 22 well-established, true breeding varieties. In making crosses between differing parents Mendel followed earlier gardeners. However, whereas earlier investigators examined only hybrid plants (F₁), Mendel continued and studied also their progeny (F₂) which were produced by self-pollination (normal in peas). The publication of his findings and conclusions in 1866 could mark the beginning of the science of genetics. Unfortunately, his ideas were not appreciated until they were rediscovered in 1903. Thus, the science of genetics was founded about 100 years ago. It now has many aspects and sub-disciplines. This chapter will deal with the way parents transmit their traits to their offspring, hence its name—transmission genetics.