Which scientist is known as the father of modern genetics?

The title of "father of modern genetics" is attributed to Gregor Mendel due to his foundational work in understanding the inheritance of traits through his studies with pea plants in the mid-19th century. Mendel's experiments led to the formulation of the laws of segregation and independent assortment, which describe how genes are passed from parents to offspring. His meticulous work established the principles of heredity, which set the groundwork for the field of genetics as we know it today.

Mendel's theories were largely unrecognized during his lifetime, only gaining prominence after his work was rediscovered around 1900. His contributions provided the basis for the later developments in genetic science, influencing subsequent researchers, including those like Watson and Crick, who discovered the structure of DNA. Their contributions were critical for molecular biology but came after Mendel's earlier work, which fundamentally transformed the understanding of inheritance.