Who is known as the father of genetics?

The individual recognized as the father of genetics is Gregor Mendel. His groundbreaking work in the 19th century laid the foundation for our understanding of heredity. Through meticulous experiments with pea plants, Mendel discovered the fundamental laws of inheritance, including concepts such as dominant and recessive traits, segregation, and independent assortment. His use of mathematical ratios to predict the outcomes of genetic crosses was revolutionary and established the principles that would later form the basis of the modern field of genetics. Mendel's findings remained largely unappreciated until the early 20th century, but they have since become fundamental to the study of biology and heredity.

In contrast, while Charles Darwin contributed significantly to the theory of evolution, his work focused on natural selection rather than the hereditary mechanisms that Mendel elucidated. Pavel F. Baranov is not associated with genetics in the way that Mendel is, and James Watson is known for his role in discovering the structure of DNA but is not considered the father of genetics. Mendel's pioneering research continues to influence the field of genetics to this day, highlighting his pivotal role in the history of biological sciences.