Gregor Mendel: Planting the Seeds of Genetics
A special exhibit showing from May 24 through September 28, 2008
Today's breathtaking advances in medicine and biology depend on the fundamental laws of heredity discovered nearly 150 years ago by an Augustinian friar working in a garden. Our special exhibit, “Gregor Mendel: Planting the Seeds of Genetics,” presents Mendel's life and work, charts the rise of Genetics and introduces you to some “Modern Mendels,” present-day scientists who are building upon his discoveries.
Exhibit Highlights
Recreate Mendel's experiment
Gregor Mendel spent eight years growing and examining tens of thousands of peas, but you can quickly recreate his experiments through interactive displays. Identify traits, make a hybrid, open up peapods to see the results, and explore what the findings mean.
Visit Mendel's world
The Abbey of St. Thomas, where Medel spent most of his adult life, was a center of scientific inquiry. This exhibit showcases rare books from the abbey’s impressive library and specimens from its botanical collections. Notes, correspondences and artifacts from Mendel’s scientific pursuits, including a microscope, a telescope, and gardening tools, are also on view.
Match DNA like a modern scientist
Try your hand at comparing the DNA of a flamingo with those of other birds to see how they're related. Use DNA to follow the breeding habits of lemon sharks and figure out how to best protect them. Can DNA tell us whether Neanderthals and humans belong to the same species?
View art inspired by genetics
Contemporary artists explore the world of genetics through photography, sculpture and works on paper. Whether they're fruit fly mutants, fanciful chromosomes, crystalline pedigrees or dividing cells, these works reflect the spirit of inquiry and creativity that inspires both science and art
Exhibit Credits
Gregor Mendel: Planting the Seeds of Genetics and its national tour were developed by the Field Museum in partnership with The Vereinigung zur Förderung der Genomforschung, Vienna, Austria, and The Mendel Museum, Brno, Czech Republic.
This exhibit is presented by Villanova University and The Academy of Natural Sciences.