Who is known for his experimentation in genetics with pea plants?

Gregor Johann Mendel is recognized for his pioneering work in the field of genetics through his experiments with pea plants. In the mid-19th century, Mendel conducted systematic cross-breeding experiments to study inheritance patterns. His work revealed how traits are passed from one generation to the next, leading to the formulation of what are now known as the laws of inheritance, including the law of segregation and the law of independent assortment. By meticulously documenting the results of his experiments, Mendel established the foundational principles of genetics, even though his findings went largely unrecognized during his lifetime.

Charles Darwin is best known for his theory of evolution by natural selection and did not focus on heredity in the same experimental way Mendel did. Louis Pasteur is primarily known for his discoveries in microbiology and the field of pasteurization, rather than genetics. James Watson, along with Francis Crick, is celebrated for co-discovering the structure of DNA but did not conduct experiments with pea plants or foundational work on inheritance like Mendel did. Thus, Mendel stands out as the key figure in genetics based on his influential experiments with pea plants.