A Reintroduction to Mendelian Genetics

Abstract

The origin of modern genetics is often credited to Gregor Mendel (1865). The fact, if not the exact date, is as well known to every modern schoolchild as the Battle of Hastings. Mendel alone didn't get us to where we are today. Even our understanding of Mendelian inheritance is dependent on the contributions of those who discovered and defined genes, alleles, chromosomes, mutation, and many other findings, including the discovery that DNA is the hereditary material. We present here an introductory/refresher course in the concepts of genetics most likely to help the modern cancer investigator cope with the ideas presented in many contemporary articles.