The "Father of Genetics" in the Monastery: 5 Fascinating Facts About Gregor Mendel’s Life as a Monk
Here are five facts about Mendel’s life at St. Thomas's Abbey that reveal the man behind the Punnett squares. 1. He Became a Monk to Escape Poverty Gregor Mendel Monk Facts
In 1868, Mendel was elected of the monastery. While this was a high honor, the administrative duties effectively ended his days of intensive research. He spent his final years in a long-running legal battle with the government over new taxes imposed on religious institutions. When he passed away in 1884, he was remembered more as a dedicated and beloved religious leader than the scientist who had unlocked the secrets of DNA. The "Father of Genetics" in the Monastery: 5
Peas weren't his only passion. As a monk, Mendel was deeply involved in the daily operations of the abbey. He was a pioneer in , recording daily weather data for decades, and he was an avid beekeeper . He even designed his own beehives and attempted to cross-breed different species of bees to see if the laws of inheritance he found in plants applied to animals. 5. He Ended His Career in Administration, Not Science He Became a Monk to Escape Poverty In
Despite his brilliance, Mendel struggled with the pressure of formal examinations. He attempted to become a certified high school teacher twice and failed both times, specifically struggling with the biology and geology sections. This "failure" actually kept him at the abbey, where he had the time and resources to begin his eight-year study on the inheritance of traits in pea plants. 4. He Was an Expert Beekeeper and Meteorologist
If you're interested in more history, check out our deep dive into the Re-discovery of Mendel’s Laws in the early 1900s!