Who is known as the father of genetics for his work on inheritance?

The title of "father of genetics" is attributed to Gregor Mendel due to his pioneering research on the inheritance of traits in pea plants. In the mid-1800s, Mendel conducted systematic experiments that led to the formulation of fundamental laws of heredity. He explored how traits such as color and shape were passed from one generation to the next through controlled breeding, which allowed him to observe patterns and formulate the laws of segregation and independent assortment.

Mendel's work laid the groundwork for modern genetics, although his findings were not widely recognized until decades later when scientists began to understand the significance of his insights. His meticulous documentation and analysis of how certain traits appeared in predictable ratios in offspring established a framework that has been foundational to genetics as a science. This body of work is critical to understanding genetic inheritance and continues to influence research and education in genetics today.

The other figures mentioned, while influential in their respective fields, do not have the same foundational connection to genetics. Charles Darwin is known for his theory of evolution through natural selection, while James Watson and Francis Crick are famous for their discovery of the double helical structure of DNA.